Tule Springs Fossil Beds

Tule Springs Fossil Beds NM https://www.nps.gov/tusk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tule_Springs_Fossil_Beds_National_Monument Mammoths, lions and camels once roamed along wetlands just north of what is now known as Las Vegas, Nevada. Their history is preserved at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and is ready to be discovered. Over the last ~570,000 years, water has transformed the Upper Las Vegas Valley. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is an urban park that preserves the unique story of this ever-changing ecosystem. Tule Springs Fossil Beds is an urban National Monument located in the northern Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. Two parking areas are available: N. Aliante Parkway & Moonlight Falls Avenue Parking Area and Durango Drive & Moccasin Road Parking Area. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Tule Springs during winter Tule Springs during winter Protectors of Tule Springs receives Prestigious George and Helen Hartzog Award Protectors of Tule Springs Board President Jill DeStefano and Vice President Sandy Croteau accepted the George and Helen Hartzog Group Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in Washington D.C. on Thursday, August 22. Protectors of Tule Springs and NPS staff at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Nevada Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. desert landscape Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument – a Pleistocene treasure trove Tule Springs has played a vital role in shaping the history of archaeology and paleontology of the Las Vegas Valley. In fact, vertebrate fossils have been known from the area for more than a century. fossil bed A Monumental Task: A Vision for the Future of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Derek Carter is the new Superintendent of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, a rich Pleistocene fossil site northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. Management of this site, which is both recently established and adjacent to a growing metro area, has numerous challenges and opportunities. Superintendent Carter looks to address visitor experience, scientific research, and resource management. fossil mammoth tusk exposed in the ground Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Cenozoic Era The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths. fossils on display at a visitor center Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 12, No. 2, Fall 2020 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> fossils on the ground with two people and a mountain in the distance Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 11, No. 2, Fall 2019 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> devils tower Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 2019 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Tule Springs Fossil Beds Quaternary Period—2.58 MYA to Today Massive ice sheets advanced and retreated across North America during much of the Quaternary, carving landscapes in many parks. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve contains geologic evidence of lower sea level during glacial periods, facilitating the prehistoric peopling of the Americas. The youngest rocks in the NPS include the lava of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the travertine at Yellowstone National Park, which can be just a few hours old. fossil bone bed and murals of mammoths Cenozoic Era The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths. fossils on display in a visitor center A New Resource for Researching America's Elephants Mammoths, mastodons, and other proboscideans are among the most familiar fossil organisms. An inventory complied by Jim Mead and others documents the occurrences of these animals in 63 National Park Service units. photo-illustration of a ranger standing next to a mammoth Illustrations, Checklists, & Inventories: Building and Sharing Baseline Knowledge at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is a recently established park near Las Vegas, Nevada that conserves late Pleistocene fossils from wetland habitats that once flourished in the area. The site is important to researchers seeking to understand ancients climate of the Southwest. But what lives there now? The park has recently been developing baseline knowledge of animals and plants living in the park today and creating new outreach materials to engage visitors. Desert bearpoppy flower pen-and-ink illustration. Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 13, No. 1, Spring 2021 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> park ranger in uniform Series: Parks in Science History Parks in Science History is a series of articles and videos made in cooperation with graduate students from various universities. They highlight the roles that national parks have played in the history of science and, therefore, the world's intellectual heritage. A woman looking through binoculars National Parks in the History of Science: Radiocarbon Dating (Video) Radiocarbon dating-sometimes called carbon-14 dating–is the most important method for determining the ages of ancient organic materials as old as about 60,000 years. The first time radiocarbon dating was used to answer a scientific question about human history was the early 1960s at what is now Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in Nevada. two different images of a dug out trench in a desert landscape with people examining the walls Teratorn Approximately one-third larger than the California condor, the teratorn was the largest bird found at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. This scavenging raptor also hunted small mammals and had a 12-foot wingspan. illustration of an ancient bird's head Dire Wolf The dire wolf is a recent addition to the Pleistocene fauna found at Tule Springs Fossil Beds. The dire wolf was about the size of the largest gray wolves, with a shoulder height of about three feet. illustration of a dire wolf Tule Springs Pronghorn Pronghorn fossils are known from Tule Springs Fossil Beds but none of them allow for identification to species. There are several candidates for which type of pronghorn lived in the Las Vegas Valley during the Pleistocene. illustration of three pronghorn running Giant Ground Sloths Two species of giant ground sloth are represented in the Pleistocene fossil record of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument: the Shasta ground sloth and Jefferson’s ground sloth. These extinct herbivores were approximately the size of a car. illustration of a ground sloth Columbian Mammoth The Columbian mammoth is the largest and most identified extinct large mammal found in the Las Vegas Formation at Tule Springs Fossil Bed National Monument. Columbian mammoths belonged to the same family as living elephants. illustration of a mammoth The Big Cats During the late Pleistocene, Tule Springs Fossil Beds was home to two extinct large cats: the sabertooth cat and the American lion. These apex predators represent two distinct cat lineages; one of which was the last of its kind in North America. illustration of a saber toothed cat Ancient Horse Horses first evolved in North America during the Eocene epoch and adapted to the changing climate over tens of millions of years. <em>Equus scotti</em> was one of the last of the native North American horses and had a wide distribution over the continent, before it went extinct 10,000 years ago. illustration of an ancient horse The Camels Two different genera of camelids have been identified from the late Pleistocene deposits of Tule Springs. Fossils of the ancient camel make up one third (about 38%) of the total large Pleistocene mammals identified at Tule Springs. The ancient llama is only known from one fossil specimen. illustration of an ancient llama Ancient Bison Although some species have gone extinct, bison have lived in North America for hundreds of thousands of years. Herds of now-extinct bison once lived in what is now Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument during the Pleistocene epoch, between 100,000-12,500 years ago. illustration of two ancient bison Series: Prehistoric Life of Tule Springs Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument preserves thousands of Pleistocene (Ice Age) fossils that help tell the story of an ever-changing ecosystem. These fossils were preserved within expanding and contracting wetlands between 100,000-12,500 years ago. Many of the Pleistocene animals of Tule Springs are still alive today, including the coyote (<em>Canis latrans</em>), jackrabbit (<em>Lepus</em> sp.), and aquatic snails. Some animals went extinct, disappearing from North America entirely. illustration of two ancient bison Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Margaret Lyneis Margaret Lyneis was one of the few women present at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds “Big Dig” from 1962 to 1963, which aimed to test whether humans interacted with Late Pleistocene animals at this site as well as possible associations of Pleistocene animal fossils with charcoal and tools. Woman with short hair and glasses smiles for the camera. Painting the Stories of the Past at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Paleontologist Lauren Parry provides information about the creation of four “snapshots” of past life at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument by paleoartist Julius Csotonyi. painting of a turtle and a sabre toothed cat Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 1, Spring 2022 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> photo of 2 people kneeling in shallow water at the base of a steep slope From Sea to Shining Sea: "Fossils from Your Public Lands" at the Western Science Center The Western Science Center in Hemet, California serves as a repository for fossils from several land management agencies. It is currently running an exhibit, “Fossils from Your Public Lands”, to showcase examples of these fossils with the cooperation of additional parks and repositories. Photo of a display case and murals inside of a visitor center. Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Series: Women's History in the Pacific West - Lower Colorado Basin Collection Biographies of women in parks from southern California, southern Nevada, and northwest Arizona Map of southern California, southern Nevada and northwest Arizona Eavesdropping (On Birds) Has a Smart New Tool BirdNET uses artificial intelligence to analyze audio recordings and detect bird species by sound. We’re exploring its potential to help parks answer complex, pressing questions. Smart, remote audio detector stands in front of tree Unlocking Earth's Secrets, Layer by Layer Those splendid rocks in our national parks aren’t just scenic wonders; they’re scientific and cultural treasures. A new geological inventory could help protect them. Two women with helmets look at a multi-layered rock cliff The Oasis Newsletter: Spring 2022 In this newsletter, you will find our recent project summary on Desert Springs monitoring, staffing updates, highiights and links for an Inventory and Monitoring Division Scientists' training, a feature on fossil monitoring in Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, and our spring and summer field schedule. Two scientists use a leveling rod and a digital level to read water channel elevation. Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 16, No. 2, Fall 2024 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo headshot of a female park ranger in uniform. A Long Time Coming: A Shared Paleontologist Comes to the Southern Network This year, for the first time, the NPS hired a shared paleontologist to support multiple parks in the same region. Dr. Aubrey Bonde was selected as the Southern Network Paleontologist to support five parks throughout Southern Nevada and California. Photo headshot of a smiling female ranger in uniform.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Nevada Tule Springs Fossil Beds Journey T h o u g h Time Beyond the modern city lies a surprising landscape where you can discover a distant past. An abundance of fossils at Tule Springs reveals what was once here: spring-fed oases, plentiful water, and large animals that are now extinct. Over thousands of years, changing climates supported this diversity of life and shaped the Las Vegas Valley. Today, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument preserves and protects National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior I c e Ages The Pleistocene Epoch, or Ice Ages, experienced multiple periods of glaciations. Ice did not reach this far south, but the cooler, wetter climate sustained extensive wet- what remains of this ancient world. Imagine cooler, wetter, and greener times as you learn about Earth's climate system and desert wetlands. Explore the Tule Springs fossil beds and the remaining badlands—are you following the paths of extinct animals? Enjoy vibrant scenery and colorful desert life, and reflect on how the earth and life upon it change over time. How will you make the most of your time here? lands that spanned the valley. The park's collection of vertebrate fossils comes from animals that lived here between approximately 100,000 and 12,500 years ago. Over time, the climate warmed and the wetlands disappeared. Height: 14 feet at shoulder Weight: 20,000 pounds Sp^in<»s, jMai-slies, and jVEeadows TVlio JL/ived H e r e ? Can you picture an oasis at Tule Springs with meadows, flowing water, and spring-fed marshes? During the Late Pleistocene these wetlands provided for animals and plants. Imagine bison with horns over six feet long, big cats, camels, horses, Columbian mammoths, and Tule Springs has one of the largest and most diverse Late Pleistocene fossil assemblages from the American Southwest. Fossils have been discovered throughout the park, where megafauna once roamed in search of water and food. Dire wolf ground sloths the size of a small car. Along with animals, seeds and pollen were buried in the dirt. Layers of sediment show us when and how this paleospring ecosystem expanded and contracted in response to climate fluctuations. Bison American lion Horse Shasta ground sloth Camel Saber-toothed cat Columbian mammoth Explore an Ancient Landscape Linking Past, Present, and Future Scientific discoveries of fossils at Tule Springs have occurred since the early 1900s. In 1933, explorers discovered an intriguing artifact: a small obsidian flake (right). Why was this discovery important? What did it tell us about the people who have used this land? © AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The flake—a piece of volcanic glass chipped by a human— was found near a fossil from a type of camel that lived during the Pleistocene and is now extinct. It gave archeologists firm evidence that an early stone toolmaker had been in North America. But was the toolmaker here at the same time as the camel? If a correlation could be verified, this discovery could rewrite the history of Tule Springs and add to what we know about ancient life in North America. For decades, scientists explored the area. In 1962-63, the Tule Springs archeological expedition (later referred to as the Las Vegas bearpoppy A visitor center is at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Desert National Wildlife Refuge. National Park Passport stamps are available at the visitor center and at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Kiosks throughout the park have exhibits and information. Researchers and student groups: contact the park to arrange your visit. Recreation Photograph desert vistas, sunsets, plants, geology, and fossils. • Hike in Eglington Preserve and explore the calcium carbonate tufa rock that formed on branches and logs in ancient flowing streams. • For information about available transportation routes to the park please visit www.rtcsnv.com. • Horseback riding is allowed on existing roads, trails, flood channels, and washes. Safety Check the park website for alerts and conditions. • Flash floods are possible and extremely dangerous. Monitor conditions. When rain is forecast, seek high ground, even if it is not raining where you are. • The climate is hot, dry desert. Temperatures are often above 100°F May-September. Hiking is not recommended in these months. Always carry plenty of water, and use common sense. • Wear sturdy hiking shoes, sunscreen, and a hat. Pack salty food, a first aid kit, a map, and a whistle. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. • Be alert when horseback riding. Fossils can crumble under a horse's weight. • Unstable trench walls and some areas are not recommended for access due to safety concerns. Accessibility We strive to make our facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to a visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check our website. Service animals are welcome. What did the scientists learn? Artif