The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs South Dakota, Inc.

Explaining how an animal would become trapped in a tar pit.

Animal size comparison.

Showing the visitors what a mammoth jaw looks like with this model. 

We spent 12 hours a week excavating in the bonebed.

Excavation in action.

A building was built covering the sinkhole allowing excavation to continue year-round.  

A guided tour was created around the rim (120 ft x 150 ft x 65 ft) of the sinkhole with multiple stops explaining the findings.

The site was uncovered in 1974 during a residential development. 

Indoor dirt pit with plastic bones to allow visitors to learn excavation techniques.

Two indoor classes were offered: Junior Paleontology (elementary age and younger) and Family Dig which was for all ages.

A third class was offered outdoors teaching visitors how to throw the traditional hunting weapon the Atl Atl.

58 Columbian Mammoths and 3 Woolly Mammoths have been excavated as well as almost 90 other Late Ice Age animals. 

Learned how to use an Airscribe to clean the compacted earth from the bone.

Using the airscribe is is a delicate process as I avoid the bone.

The front of the lab is enclosed by glass windows. Visitors can come and watch our process. 

Cleaned vertebrae that I was able to finish before my time was done.