Hagerman Fossil Beds

The Hagerman digs revealed one of the richest known Pliocene fossil sites, dating back around 3 to 4 million years. The explorations provided a rare glimpse into a globe preceding the Glacial epoch, in addition to some of the earliest examples these days’s modern flora and fauna.

In 1928, Elmer Chef, a breeder from Hagerman, Idaho, stumbled upon fossils eroding from the rock along the Snake River. He reported his impressive discovery to the U.S. Geological Survey, which spoke to the Smithsonian Institution. The result was an impressive series of fossil explorations between 1929 and 1934.

In 1928, Elmer Chef, a rancher from Hagerman, Idaho, stumbled upon fossils deteriorating from the rock along the Snake River. The result was a remarkable collection of fossil explorations in between 1929 and 1934.

Blasting open the high bluffs along the river, paleontology groups combed away debris utilizing groups of equines. Digging up to 60 feet deep, what they discovered was extraordinary: the remains of over 200 Equus simplicidens (an old precursor to modern equines) including a number of bone structures in flawless shape.

Thousand Springs State Park, where the Hagerman expedition website is now remembered with a site visitor center and the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, continues to be one of the globe’s richest Pliocene fossil websites.

Cook continued to play a crucial function in the Hagerman explorations up until his death in 1961. As a “person researcher,” he added work to Smithsonian Institute teams for 7 periods of fossil excavating while his other half, Lydia, would certainly often prepare for the team. He additionally kept a personal fossil collection where he additionally contributed specimens to the Smithsonian’s archives.

As a result, over 140 new types have been newly identified to science in addition to the Hagerman Steeds. Two of the most remarkable are the Platygonus pearcei (a type of skunk or peccary pig) and Borophagus hilli also referred to as “The Bone Crusher” (a dog-like North American scavenger carnivore comparable in role and function to hyenas in Africa today).

The expedition website, later referred to as the Hagerman Equine Quarry, has actually since come to be a keystone in the study of steed advancement. The discovery of 20 complete skeletons of Pliocene equines currently called Hagerman Horses has actually offered an exceptional look into the life phases and social structure of a prehistoric horse populace.

Thousand Springs State Park, where the Hagerman exploration website is now born in mind with a site visitor center and the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monolith, remains to be one of the globe’s richest Pliocene fossil websites. The excavations likewise uncovered remains of various other huge Pliocene pets such as ground sloths, mastodons and saber-toothed cats. Years later on, more paleontological examinations focused on brushing the website for the smaller sized fossils and fragments which might have earlier been neglected, for example, rodents, fish, frogs and turtles.