Prehistoric mammoth fossil found

**Dew k. Mosi** · 02-20-2009, 07:44 PM

Mammoth Skeleton Found in Los Angeles

CALIFORNIA: Researchers are in the process of painstakingly excavating the fossils that were found buried under a parking lot.

They call him "Zed," a nearly intact mammoth just discovered among a rare new prehistoric find at the world famous La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles.

There are so many fossils the excavators use dental picks to dig through the dirt so no one accidentally damages one. Paleontologists believe this discovery could double the collection at the La Brea tar pits by three to four million specimens.

Excavator Andrea Thomer says "we've got the skull of a dira, which is the most common animal we find at Rancho La Brea. One half of a jaw of a dira. And they were found next door as the L.A. County Museum of Art was preparing its new underground parking lot.

But excavating the entire site would have taken decades so huge chunks of earth were lifted out of the ground, placed in crates, and moved here to the Page Museum. Then came the painstaking work of digging and the excavators couldn't been more excited.

Excavator Ryan Long says "to me this is LA's true history. Not Hollywood and movie stars and all of that. Our real history is right here." The findings are so big, paleontologists say they will redefine the tar pits, an area already well known for its discoveries of prehistoric life. And there's no bigger star in this collection than Zed, the name given to a Colombian mammoth, remarkable because he was found with his skeleton nearly intact.

Lab supervisor Shelley Cox said "we've never found a mammoth skeleton before. And in as good a condition as he is." Right now the children just think its pretty cool.

Paleontologists say Zed and the other fossils may inform decades of research on subjects like global warming.

SsM · 02-20-2009, 07:46 PM

Oooh, I like mammoths.

SuperFerret · 02-20-2009, 07:50 PM

Cool.

Immortalfire · 02-20-2009, 07:58 PM

"Mastadon!"

chaseter · 02-20-2009, 08:30 PM

We already found a frozen one...

Spidey-Bat · 02-20-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaseter

We already found a frozen one...

Yeah. This is lame.

spideyboy_1111 · 02-20-2009, 09:51 PM

i saw this on the news the other day, i'd really like to see the collection when it opens

they said it will pretty much double there ice age exhibit

CashforStash · 02-20-2009, 09:54 PM

Harrison Ford on top of a mammoth fighting a t-rex...

Majic Walrus · 02-21-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CashforStash

Harrison Ford on top of a mammoth fighting a t-rex...

Being driven by Abe Lincoln?

Optikal · 02-21-2009, 08:35 AM

I want to see the frozen one!

But then I think a real Jurrassic Park would be a good idea...

02-20-2009, 07:44 PM	#1
Dew k. Mosi Hype Award Winner SHH! Administrator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On the Edge of Glory Posts: 64,489	Prehistoric mammoth fossil found Mammoth Skeleton Found in Los Angeles CALIFORNIA: Researchers are in the process of painstakingly excavating the fossils that were found buried under a parking lot. They call him "Zed," a nearly intact mammoth just discovered among a rare new prehistoric find at the world famous La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles. There are so many fossils the excavators use dental picks to dig through the dirt so no one accidentally damages one. Paleontologists believe this discovery could double the collection at the La Brea tar pits by three to four million specimens. Excavator Andrea Thomer says "we've got the skull of a dira, which is the most common animal we find at Rancho La Brea. One half of a jaw of a dira. And they were found next door as the L.A. County Museum of Art was preparing its new underground parking lot. But excavating the entire site would have taken decades so huge chunks of earth were lifted out of the ground, placed in crates, and moved here to the Page Museum. Then came the painstaking work of digging and the excavators couldn't been more excited. Excavator Ryan Long says "to me this is LA's true history. Not Hollywood and movie stars and all of that. Our real history is right here." The findings are so big, paleontologists say they will redefine the tar pits, an area already well known for its discoveries of prehistoric life. And there's no bigger star in this collection than Zed, the name given to a Colombian mammoth, remarkable because he was found with his skeleton nearly intact. Lab supervisor Shelley Cox said "we've never found a mammoth skeleton before. And in as good a condition as he is." Right now the children just think its pretty cool. Paleontologists say Zed and the other fossils may inform decades of research on subjects like global warming. __________________ Innocence alone is not enough. It is only when a person's innocence is tested by experience, purged and strengthened by the struggles and sufferings of the world that it attains its full value.--- Longshot Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get.... But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.--- Conan O'Brien.

02-20-2009, 07:50 PM	#3
SuperFerret Side-Kick Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SuperFerret's Shoebox of Solitude Posts: 32,545	Re: Prehistoric mammoth fossil found Cool.

02-20-2009, 07:58 PM	#4
Immortalfire The Invincible Iron Mod SHH! Global Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the pale moonlight Posts: 53,415	Re: Prehistoric mammoth fossil found "Mastadon!" __________________ D A W G S

02-20-2009, 08:30 PM	#5
chaseter Bland User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 41,456	Re: Prehistoric mammoth fossil found We already found a frozen one... __________________ Kid, you're holding up the line of 2 people. You can leave a penny, you can't take a penny. You can leave a penny anytime. You have to spend $10 to take a penny. Store policy. Since when has this been store policy? Uh, since my boss made up the policy. You gonna pay? You're holding up my line of one other person. You can't afford your milk, step aside. What, daddy didn't give you enough milk money? Little baby gonna cry about it? Just step aside. And that is how Uncle Ben dies.

02-20-2009, 09:51 PM	#7
spideyboy_1111 Young Avenger Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ohio, formally Los Angeles, by way of Ohio Posts: 53,695	Re: Prehistoric mammoth fossil found i saw this on the news the other day, i'd really like to see the collection when it opens they said it will pretty much double there ice age exhibit __________________ Spoiler!!! Click to Read!: My collection and Master Poses updated 07/09/11(starting with post #36) Deviant Art FaceBook Love Conquered Evil in California! August 4th, 2010 [=]

02-20-2009, 09:54 PM	#8
CashforStash Haterz Bot 9000+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: /b/ronyland Posts: 2,149	Re: Prehistoric mammoth fossil found Harrison Ford on top of a mammoth fighting a t-rex... __________________ "Insert TDKR Bane quote here" CashForStash's top FIVE favorite films 1.JAWS 2.Back To The Future 3.Taxi Driver 4.Drive 5. The Dark Knight

02-21-2009, 08:35 AM	#10
Optikal Professor Chaos Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 1,438	Re: Prehistoric mammoth fossil found I want to see the frozen one! But then I think a real Jurrassic Park would be a good idea... __________________ Jones: Tell me the truth… what are you going to feel when you put a bullet in one of those men, Nick? Fury: Recoil. -Secret Warriors #4

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