The Mammoth Site

By Rebecca Hernandez

Like Carlsbad Caverns, the Mammoth Site in South Dakota is just not one of those places in America that people normally flock to for their holiday. On the surface it might seem like one of those cheesy American roadside tourist traps, but the discoveries that are going on here are very impressive.

The mammoths for which the site is famous were first discovered in 1974 by chance during an excavation for a housing development, since then the bones of 55 mammoths have been unearthed.

The remains date back to around 26,000 years ago, where they are thought to have been trapped in a spring-fed pond and subsequently preserved over time. It is believed that there might be as many as a hundred mammoths buried in this one location.

Every July, the site hosts a visiting scientist; mammoth experts from all over the world have visited the site and written publications in their field.

In addition to the actual dig site and museum, the Mammoth Site hosts a “Jr. Paleontologist Program” in which kids can learn excavation techniques to uncover replicas of remains found at the site.

Other Ice Age fossils have been discovered here besides the mammoths, including llamas, giant short-faced bears, and various birds and fish. Next time you happen to be in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, this is definitely worth taking a look at.

Time required: a day.

Money: £

More information: MammothSite.com

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