Saturday, June 12, 2010

Ashfall Fossil Beds

Ashfall Fossil Beds is home to remains of 12 million year old mammals that died after a volcanic eruption.  The eruption was 1000 miles away from the water hole.  The ash was very fine, the animals inhaled the ash and eventually the ash covered every thing.    Fossils of barrel-bodied rhinos, three-toed horses, llama-like camels, sabre-toothed deer, elephants, and other animals can be seen.  There is a barn, called Rhino barn, that covers an intact fossil site with complete fossil skeletons left in place for public viewing.  We were able to watch some of the digging taking place and got to talk to an intern who explained what was going on.

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