On the Expedition
You can help piece together life in the Ice Age at a truly mammoth site.
An experienced and enthusiastic team leader, Dr Larry Agenbroad will give you a complete perspective on prehistoric environments and Pleistocene extinctions. Working with his field staff, you'll learn how to excavate, record, and preserve bone fragments from terraces and how to map your finds on a computer. You'll also share your knowledge with the many visitors to the site, now a $2.1 million museum and a National Natural Landmark thanks to Dr Agenbroad's efforts. Expect a warm welcome from Hot Springs locals, who are proud of their mammoths. You will also have a chance to visit natural areas nearby, and perhaps see free-ranging bison, deer, antelope, wild turkeys, and if you are really lucky, bighorn sheep or mountain goats.
Meals and Accommodations
After digging through 26,000-year-old sediments, you'll welcome showers at a comfortable motel located close to the site. You will share a same-gender room provided with two double beds, television, and a full bath, with laundry facilities a short walk away. Modern bathroom facilities and snack food vending machines are available at the dig site as well. Your team will enjoy hearty meals prepared by a local cook and served family-style, including a meat dish, vegetables, and salads, along with freshly prepared breads and desserts. Team members and staff will rotate kitchen clean-up duties.
About the Research Area
The Mammoth Site is within the city limits of Hot Springs, a small agricultural and retirement community named for its thermal springs. It is an attractive area physiographically and environmentally. The historic architecture gives a unique character to the town and the people are open and friendly, tending to “adopt” the crews.
Hot Springs is located within a valley on the eastern flank of the Black Hills area. The Black Hills are the first impression of western United States’ mountains that eastern tourists get. This area, referred to as “an island in a sea of grass,” contains a varied landscape and is composed of all the major geologic rock and mineral provinces. It is in sharp contrast to the surrounding prairie and high plains. The Mount Rushmore National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Park, and other attractions are located in this region. Wind Cave has the largest herd of free-roaming bison in the United States.