Mammoth Site
Encyclopedia
The Mammoth Site is a museum and paleontological site near Hot Springs, South Dakota
. It contains the remains of fauna and flora preserved by entrapment in a karst
sinkhole
during the Pleistocene
era. Mammoth
bones were found at the site in 1974, and a museum and building enclosing the site were established. The museum now contains an extensive collection of mammoth remains. Research and excavations at the site are ongoing.
About 26,000 years ago the cavern at the site collapsed. The resulting steep-sided hole, about 65 feet deep, was 120 by 150 wide at the surface. Warm artesian
-fed spring waters created a pond that was attractive to wildlife. Findings at the site include the remains of megafauna
such as Giant short-faced bears along with those of shrub oxen
, American camel
, llama
, wolves, coyote
s, birds, mink
s, ferrets, prairie dogs, vole
s, and mole
s. Invertebrate
discoveries include several species of clam
s, snail
s, and slug
s.
Over the course of the next 350 to 700 years, the hole filled with sediments and mammoth remains. The remains of the living organisms in the site are not technically fossil
s, since they were not mineralized but preserved by the clay and coarse sand that accumulated within the sinkhole. As of 2011, at least 59 individual mammoths had been identified. The majority of the mammoth remains have been identified as those of Columbian Mammoth
s, although the remains of three Wooly mammoths have been found as well.
Mammoths that slipped into the hole found it difficult to escape. Researchers measuring the pelvic bones of the remains have determined that most of the victims were young males. A hypothesis drawn from observations of modern elephant
s' matriarchal societies, in which these group members are expelled, concludes that this group was inclined to the risk-taking behavior that led to their entrapment.
in 1980. Initially the finds were mapped on a string grid; since then the mapping systems have increasingly relied on computerized technologies.
The Mammoth Site is now a 501(c)-3 non-profit organization. The museum is open to the public. Earthwatch volunteers participate in excavations during July. The museum's visiting scientists have included specialists from Mexico
, Italy
, Netherlands
, Great Britain
, Russia
, and Germany
. The museum also houses a collection of Clovis
and Folsom
artifacts and sponsors outreach programs for students from elementary to graduate-school levels.
43°25′28.2"N 103°29′33.61"W
Hot Springs, South Dakota
Hot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,711. It is the county seat of Fall River County...
. It contains the remains of fauna and flora preserved by entrapment in a karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
sinkhole
Sinkhole
A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone...
during the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
era. Mammoth
Mammoth
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...
bones were found at the site in 1974, and a museum and building enclosing the site were established. The museum now contains an extensive collection of mammoth remains. Research and excavations at the site are ongoing.
Formation
Artesian aquifer
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well...
-fed spring waters created a pond that was attractive to wildlife. Findings at the site include the remains of megafauna
Megafauna
In terrestrial zoology, megafauna are "giant", "very large" or "large" animals. The most common thresholds used are or...
such as Giant short-faced bears along with those of shrub oxen
Shrub-ox
The shrub-ox is an extinct genus and species of Bovidae native to North America. It is a close relative of the musk-ox....
, American camel
Protylopus
Protylopus is an extinct genus of camel, lived during middle to late Eocene some 45-40 million years ago in North America.The oldest camel known, it was also the smallest, reaching a length of , and probably weighing around . Based on its teeth, it probably fed on the soft leaves of forest plants...
, llama
Llama
The llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-Hispanic times....
, wolves, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
s, birds, mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
s, ferrets, prairie dogs, vole
Vole
A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body, a shorter hairy tail, a slightly rounder head, smaller ears and eyes, and differently formed molars . There are approximately 155 species of voles. They are sometimes known as meadow mice or field mice in North America...
s, and mole
Mole (animal)
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes; and short, powerful limbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the...
s. Invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
discoveries include several species of clam
Clam
The word "clam" can be applied to freshwater mussels, and other freshwater bivalves, as well as marine bivalves.In the United States, "clam" can be used in several different ways: one, as a general term covering all bivalve molluscs...
s, snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s, and slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s.
Over the course of the next 350 to 700 years, the hole filled with sediments and mammoth remains. The remains of the living organisms in the site are not technically fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s, since they were not mineralized but preserved by the clay and coarse sand that accumulated within the sinkhole. As of 2011, at least 59 individual mammoths had been identified. The majority of the mammoth remains have been identified as those of Columbian Mammoth
Columbian Mammoth
The Columbian Mammoth is an extinct species of elephant of the Quaternary period that appeared in North America during the late Pleistocene. It is believed by some authorities to be the same species as its slightly larger cousin, M...
s, although the remains of three Wooly mammoths have been found as well.
Mammoths that slipped into the hole found it difficult to escape. Researchers measuring the pelvic bones of the remains have determined that most of the victims were young males. A hypothesis drawn from observations of modern elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s' matriarchal societies, in which these group members are expelled, concludes that this group was inclined to the risk-taking behavior that led to their entrapment.
Museum
In 1974, a construction worker, George Hanson, unearthed unusual bones while the area was being prepared for a new subdivision. His son recognized one of the finds as a mammoth tooth. The landowner agreed to further investigation, and a complete skull and tusk were found in 1974. Donations, some made by local citizens, along with the work performed by amateur and professional excavators, led to its status as a museum, and it was designated a National Natural LandmarkNational Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
in 1980. Initially the finds were mapped on a string grid; since then the mapping systems have increasingly relied on computerized technologies.
The Mammoth Site is now a 501(c)-3 non-profit organization. The museum is open to the public. Earthwatch volunteers participate in excavations during July. The museum's visiting scientists have included specialists from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The museum also houses a collection of Clovis
Clovis culture
The Clovis culture is a prehistoric Paleo-Indian culture that first appears 11,500 RCYBP , at the end of the last glacial period, characterized by the manufacture of "Clovis points" and distinctive bone and ivory tools...
and Folsom
Folsom point
Folsom points are a distinct form of chipped stone projectile points associated with the Folsom Tradition of North America. The style of toolmaking was named after Folsom, New Mexico where the first sample was found within the bone structure of a bison in 1927....
artifacts and sponsors outreach programs for students from elementary to graduate-school levels.
External links
- The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota - official site
43°25′28.2"N 103°29′33.61"W