Ashfall Fossil Beds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashfall Fossil BedsState Historical Park |
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Hills surrounding the fossil beds
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 Ashfall Fossil Beds
State Historical Park Location in Nebraska
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| Location | Antelope County, Nebraska, United States |
| Nearest town | Royal, Nebraska |
| Area | 360 acres (150 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,722 ft (525 m) |
| Designation | Nebraska state historical park |
| Established | 1986 |
| Operator | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Website | Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park |
| Designated: | 2006 |
The Ashfall Fossil Beds are amazing fossil sites in northeastern Nebraska. They are special because they show a "snapshot" of life from millions of years ago. This happened when a huge amount of volcanic ash fell, burying many animals.
This site is now a protected area called Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park. It covers 360-acre (150 ha) of land. The park has a visitor center with cool displays. There's also a lab where scientists prepare fossils. You can even see an active dig site called the Hubbard Rhino Barn. Here, you can find fossils of ancient rhinos, called Teleoceras, and early horses.
The Ashfall Fossil Beds are famous for their well-preserved mammal fossils. These animals lived during the middle Miocene geologic time, about 12 million years ago.
Contents
The Ancient Ashfall Event
A Volcanic Disaster
About 12 million years ago, a huge volcano erupted. This was the Bruneau-Jarbidge supervolcano in what is now Idaho. It was nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away from the Ashfall site. A massive cloud of volcanic ash drifted eastward. It covered the land in Nebraska.
Many animals gathered at a waterhole. They were looking for relief from the ash. But the ash was thick and deadly. It caused the animals to die.
Animals Preserved in Ash
Scientists have found many amazing fossils here. These include Teleoceras (extinct rhinos that looked like hippos). There are also small three-toed and one-toed horses. You can find camels and even birds.
Many animals were found with their bones still connected. One rhino even had her unborn baby inside her. Some fossils show what the animals ate for their last meal.
The bones show that the animals died from breathing in the ash. It filled their lungs. Smaller animals died first because their lungs were smaller. Larger animals died later. Some bones have bite marks. This shows that ancient dogs, like Aelurodon, ate some of the dead animals.
A Glimpse into the Past
The fossils also tell us about the ancient environment. The area was a savanna. This means it had grasslands with scattered trees. The climate was warmer and milder than today.
The ash fell quickly and piled up in low spots like the waterhole. It stayed soft enough to preserve the animals. Even delicate bird bones and turtle shells were not crushed. Later, a layer of hard sandstone formed above the ash. This "caprock" protected the fossils for millions of years.
Discovering the Ashfall Fossils
How the Site Was Found
The first clue to this amazing site appeared in 1971. A young rhino skull was seen sticking out of a gully. It was on Melvin Colson's farm. Michael Voorhies, a paleontologist from the University of Nebraska State Museum, found it with his wife, Jane.
The Park Opens
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation bought the Ashfall site in 1986. Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park opened to visitors in 1991. In 2006, it was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural site.
The Hubbard Rhino Barn
The Hubbard Rhino Barn opened in 2009. This large building covers 17,500-square-foot (1,630 m2). It allows visitors to watch paleontologists at work. They carefully dig up new fossils right where they were found. Walkways let you get a close-up view of the scientists during the summer.
What Animals Are Found Here?
The main part of Ashfall is called the "Rhino Barn." This is because so many Teleoceras rhino fossils are found there. But many other animals have been discovered too:
- Horses: Five different types of ancient horses, including Cormohipparion and Pliohippus.
- Camels: Three types of ancient camels, such as Procamelus.
- Dogs: Three types of ancient dogs, like Leptocyon. Evidence of a bone-crushing dog, possibly Epicyon, has also been found.
- Rhinos: Only one type, Teleoceras, which is very common.
- Musk Deer: A saber-toothed musk deer called Longirostromeryx.
- Birds: Three bird species, including a crowned crane (Balearica exigua) and a hawk (Apatosagittarius).
- Turtles: Three types of turtles, including a large tortoise (Hesperotestudo).
