Mammoth Graveyard

  United States

Hot Springs

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Inquire for specific dates.

Description: Research Mission
You can help piece together life in theIce Age at a truly mammoth site.

Situation Report
Hot Springs, South Dakota - On a winter afternoon 26,000 years ago, in an effort to find greener fodder, a teenage male Columbian mammoth fell over the edge of a sinkhole and perished in the entrapping bottom sediments. Over the years, this tragedy was repeated until eventually the deadly pond filled in, preserving at least 100 mammoth victims. Their deaths were unmarked until 1974, when geologist Dr. Larry Agenbroad was called to investigate a tusk hit by a bulldozer. More than three decades later, you can help Agenbroad continue to investigate the world's largest natural deposit of Columbian mammoth remains. So far, 24 seasons of Earthwatch crews have excavated more than 55 mammoths, as well as camels, llamas, and the first wolf and giant short-faced bear fossils found in the north-central plains.

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. There are modern bathroom facilities and snack food vending machines at the dig site as well. Enjoy hearty meals prepared by a local ranch woman served family style, including a meat dish, vegetables, and salads, served with freshly prepared breads and desserts. Team members and staff rotate for K.P. (kitchen police) duties.

Highlights: On the Expedition
A master at building esprit de corps, 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 computer-map your finds. You'll also share your new knowledge with the many visitors to the site, now a $2.1 million museum and a National Natural Landmark thanks to 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 buffalo (bison), deer, antelope, wild turkeys, and if you are really lucky, bighorn sheep or mountain goats.

Qualifications: Earthwatch volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. Teams have a minimum age of 18, unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is 16.

Cost in US$: 2,746

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: 18 - 90

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families and Individuals

Participants Travel to United States Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10-12

Scholarships are Available. Fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. The Earthwatch community also includes 20,000 global members, 4,000 eager volunteers each year, 50 collaborating conservation organizations, and 50 corporate partners, all of whom work together to make a difference. Below you will find out more about our leadership, employment opportunities, and contact information.

Year Founded: 1971