Snowmastodon site, Paleontological excavation site in Snowmass Village, Colorado, United States.
The Snowmastodon site is a paleontological excavation location beneath Ziegler Reservoir that contains over 36,000 vertebrate fossils representing at least 50 different species from the Pleistocene epoch. The remains are preserved in layers of sediment and reveal what life was like when large Ice Age animals roamed the area.
Construction workers discovered the first mammoth bones in October 2010 while building at the reservoir site. This find sparked an intensive scientific excavation that ran through July 2011 and recovered what became one of North America's most significant collections of Pleistocene-era animal remains.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science coordinated 250 volunteers and 40 scientists to document and preserve this exceptional collection of Ice Age remains.
The site is located at about 8,875 feet elevation in a mountain setting where weather and snow can affect access during certain seasons. It's best to check current conditions and visiting arrangements in advance since the excavation area may be closed or restricted depending on the time of year.
The site holds the largest concentration of American mastodon remains ever discovered, with remains from 35 individuals of different ages and both sexes. This mix allows scientists to piece together information about how these extinct animals lived and interacted with one another.
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