Melbourne Bone Bed, Paleontological site at Crane Creek in Melbourne, Florida, United States.
The Melbourne Bone Bed is a fossil site in Melbourne, Florida, where a layer of brown sand holds the remains of extinct animals from thousands of years ago. The site spans multiple locations across the area, with bones and teeth scattered through different sections.
The site was extensively excavated in the 1920s and revealed bones of mammoths, mastodons, and other large extinct animals. These digs also uncovered human remains, which sparked discussion about when humans first arrived in North America.
The discovery of human remains alongside animal fossils sparked scientific discussions about early human presence in North America during the Late Pleistocene period.
The site is not easily accessible and most remains are buried or held in private collections. Before visiting, you should research current conditions, as it is primarily a scientific location rather than a public attraction.
A carved piece of ivory was found alongside human bones during a 1925 excavation, raising questions about tool-using people living at that time. This discovery remains one of the site's most puzzling aspects and continues to be debated by researchers.
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