Are you interested in prehistoric animals?
Our furthest day trip from Custer, SD was to Hot Springs. The primary reason for us taking the 40
mile drive was to visit The Mammoth Site.
While leveling ground for a planned housing project in 1974, a 7-foot long tusk and other bones
were discovered. Land development was immediately put on hold in order to learn more.
Excavation began at the site a year later when a complete skull (tusks and all) was discovered. At
that point, the housing development was permanently halted. The site eventually became a fully
enclosed, climate controlled dig site that is now home to the remains of more than 60 Columbian
mammoths.
After watching a 10-minute introductory video, we had some background on the Ice Age and the
watering hole which attracted the mammoths. This "sinkhole" was the ultimate cause of the death
of the mammoths as they could not climb out.
A self-guided tour took us around the edge of the sinkhole and eventually inside. We could see
some of the 1,200+ fossils including pelvic, hip and leg bones, teeth, tusks and skulls. In addition
to seeing the variety of tools used to safely unearth finds, there's also exhibits and replicas ... and
even some footprints!
Where have you seen exhibits about prehistoric animals that you would recommend?
#WordyExplorers #DayTrips #RoadTrip #HotSprings #HotSpringsSD #TheMammothSite
#PrehistoricAnimals #PrehistoricMammals #paleontology #DigSite #mammoth #mammoths
#ColombianMammoths
Our furthest day trip from Custer, SD was to Hot Springs. The primary reason for us taking the 40 mile drive was to visit The Mammoth Site.
While leveling ground for a planned housing project in 1974, a 7-foot long tusk and other bones were discovered. Land development was immediately put on hold in order to learn more. Excavation began at the site a year later when a complete skull (tusks and all) was discovered. At that point, the housing development was permanently halted. The site eventually became a fully enclosed, climate controlled dig site that is now home to the remains of more than 60 Columbian mammoths.
After watching a 10-minute introductory video, we had some background on the Ice Age and the watering hole which attracted the mammoths. This "sinkhole" was the ultimate cause of the death of the mammoths as they could not climb out.
A self-guided tour took us around the edge of the sinkhole and eventually inside. We could see some of the 1,200+ fossils including pelvic, hip and leg bones, teeth, tusks and skulls. In addition to seeing the variety of tools used to safely unearth finds, there's also exhibits and replicas ... and even some footprints!
Where have you seen exhibits about prehistoric animals that you would recommend?
#WordyExplorers #DayTrips #RoadTrip #HotSprings #HotSpringsSD #TheMammothSite #PrehistoricAnimals #PrehistoricMammals #paleontology #DigSite #mammoth #mammoths #ColombianMammoths