A new donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation will allow researchers at the Ashfall Fossil Beds State Park to resume protecting exposed fossils, which are valuable to the international geological community.
"Most digs you remove the specimens from the ground and prepare them," explained Gregory Brown, paleontologist and Chief Preparatory at the University of Nebraska State Museum.
"With Ashfall one of the remarkable things is the specimens are preserved together. Keeping the specimens as they are in the ground in context is a major benefit to scientists."
At Ashfall Park, located in Royal, Neb., paleontologists have been uncovering fossils for more than 30 years. These prehistoric skeletons were preserved by volcanic ash from an eruption more than 12 million years ago.
Barrel-bodied rhinos
The park contains skeletons surrounding a prehistoric watering hole where many extinct species lived including the following:
- crane-like birds
- one and three-toed horses
- both giraffe-like and llama-like camels
- barrel-bodied rhinos (a hornless and slightly larger version of modern rhinos)
Many fossils have been named by their excavators including a twin set of rhino cubs, TL and RGC, a mother and cub, Sandy and Justin and an old bull rhino named Snag.
To view an interactive map of the dig site complete with names and families of the fossils click here.
These fossils are contained in the rhino barn, named for the park's barrel-bodied rhinoceroses, the most numerous animals in the park. The $1.2 million donation will go primarily to expanding the structure by more than 17,000 feet.
New discoveries
Excavation had stopped in the past few years because scientists were unable to protect any more of the surface area where fossils might exist. Because these fossils are left in place, they must be in an enclosure. Now, the expansion will mean the rhino barn will grow to include a larger area where excavation can begin.
"The fossils in the ash are fragile and, if they are left exposed, they wouldn't last," said Priscilla Grew, director at the University of Nebraska State Museum. "This donation makes it possible to do more research."
Paleontologists are unsure of what may be discovered if excavation continues. Roughly 150 yards by 50 yards has been excavated, but new discoveries are still possible.
"We do not know the extent of the bone bed," said Brown who was involved in the original dig more than 30 years ago. "We don't have any idea of the limits. We have been asked that since the beginning, and we still don't have an answer."
The construction on the expanded rhino barn will not begin until September, after the spring and summer visitor season is over. Preliminary work will begin this spring to prepare the site for the building.
For visitors
Student workers will begin the task of excavating the area where the structure's walls will go. They must remove any fossils that would be damaged by the construction.
This presents not only a learning opportunity for geological students, but it will also benefit park visitors.
"Visitors will be able to see the excavation going on," said Grew.
The new structure will be named the Hubbard Family Rhino Barn, in honor of the long-term donors to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who made its construction possible.
The Hubbard family donors are:
- Theodore Hubbard, who died in 1995
- Claire Hubbard , wife of Theodore Hubbard
- Anne Hubbard, daughter of Theodore and Claire
- Theodore Hubbard Jr., son of Theodore and Claire
- Colleen Hubbard, wife of Theodore Hubbard Jr.
The donation comes from the Theodore F. and Claire M. Hubbard Family Foundation of Omaha whose past donations include additional money to the NU State Museum for children's education, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Medical Center to the cardiology faculty, and UNO television to fund a documentary.
