Mammoth Site

Hot Springs, SD, is home to the Mammoth Site. I was trying to figure out why it took us three summers before we finally went to visit. I think perhaps there are so many tourist attractions in the Black Hills, that the claim to being a real dig site seemed a bit suspect. I don't know. 

At any rate, we decided to go this time since we were staying in the area. The weather guessers were calling for afternoon rain, and the dig site was inside. How many archeological dig sites do you know indoors? 

We both came away more impressed than we thought we'd be. It's one of the few places where you can see mammoth bones in situ. The site was discovered in 1974 when a bulldozer doing sitework for a development hit a tusk. The next day, the bulldozer hit another bone. The owner realized the significance and called in a university professor.

The dig site is now in a building which protects the clearly defined site from the elements. The site is a sinkhole pond where mammoths came to drink water. The sides of the sinkhole were a slippery shale and once in the water, the large mammoths could not get back out. It was a natural mammoth trap. Thus far they know that over 60 mammoths died there. From core drillings, they believe the sinkhole sediments go down another 45 feet from what is exposed. Who knows what the future will turn up at the site.

Tools of the trade

Tusks and teeth

On the edge of the sinkhole slope

Another angle

Only two skulls with tusks intact

Where Are We Going Next?