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Students search for fossils during 'ice age' field trip
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| Title | Students search for fossils during 'ice age' field trip |
| Transcript | John & Lucy Forgey... entertained the Iona elementary students during a recent field trip to the site, where the first prehistoric elephant was unearthed back in 1916. (Advocate photo by Mona Taggart) Students search for fossils during "ice age" field trip by Mona Taggart Can you imagine living millions of years ago and in the distance, hear the thundering of footsteps, that continue to grow louder with each giant step? The mammoths journeyed from Eurasia to America about one million years ago. There were approximately twenty different kinds of mammoths/mastodons (a large extinct mammal that resembled an elephant with shaggy hair and two sets of teeth), including the most popular, the wooly smamrnoth. Their relatives arc more like the Asian elephant than the African elephants. The last of the great mammoths still roamed the earth Until, as, recently as 10, 000 years ago (millions of years after the dinosaurs were extinct). The last Ice Age began approximately 70, 000 years ago and ended 10, 000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch. The earth was much colder than it is now, snow covered much of the land, glaciers and ice sheets extended over large.areas., and the sea levels were lower. Scientists continue to look for answers to the prehistoric puzzle as to what would cause a species to go extinct? Was climate change a factor? Did some catastrophic event take place, such as the impact of a meteor? Over hunting or disease? John and Lucy Forgey, rural Dallas, hosted the lona elementary students in May, for an afternoon of visiting the actual excavation site, where the first such animal had been found, explored another hillside referred to as lona students... and their parents and teacher, look for fossils of prehistoric animals as well as ivory on another hillside, referred as Mother Grande, during their outing. (Advocate photo by Mona Taggart) up th��_sod, -sincc ii_afas-mostly-rock and sand. The area was mostly used for cutting wild hay. Neighbors could see an individual moving about the tent, but could not determine what the person was up to, as there were no signs of lumber to build a home, nor did the individual have a horse. By afternoon, the questions were answered by Brumbaugh as he drove by the neighbors and informed them of what was happening. Brumbaugh advised that his name was Dr. Edward Leffingwell mens, -however, some of the specimens were badly damaged by the crude and vigorous manner in which they had been excavated. Settlers and children often went and watched him work. To them it looked like a slow, tedious, and painstaking job that none of them had ever seen done. He used a small chisel to dig away bits of the earth, until a part of the specimen came to the surface. He would then brush off the last of dust from the bone with a soft paint brush. Most of the larger pieces were already cracked in several places and had to be removed in pieces. The gomphotherium... was a four-tusked, primitive mastodont that was about ten feet tall. This is a picture of the first one to be unearthed at the John and Lucy Forgey ranch in 1916. It now is housed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY. This elephant-like mammal had a long trunk, relatively small ears, a short tail, and four column-like legs. It had a long lower jaw with two parallel tusks. Their teeth measured two inches long and 1.5 inches wide. Fossils have been found in Kenya, (Africa); France (Europe), Pakistan, (Asia); and Kansas and Dallas (USA). (Submitted photo) Ground upheaval may have swallowed prehistoric animals to the state museum at Ann Arbor, MI. It was later said that he sold it to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. NY. However, there has been no documentation of payment for the specimen. The prehistoric elephant found on the Forgey land was a significant find, because it was the first one of this species to be unearthed. It is also considered to be the second best mastodon found in the United States. The Forgeys have been advised that there was probably an upheaval, the ground emerged and swallowed the animal, due to this fact, it preserved the animal. the library of the American Museum of Natural History, the prehistoric elephant came from the Early Miocene to the late Pliocene, which would make it from two to twenty-six million years old. Fossils of animals from this family have been found on four continents: Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. This ten foot tall relative of the elephant had a lower jaw with greatly extended parallel tusks. Baione also advised that there have been several scientific papers written on this specimen and that the name has changed several times since it was first described. Originally it was the Trilophodon the Forgey land was the first of its kind discovered, so it is referred to as the "iype" specimen because the description of this species of animal was based on this specimen. John and Lucy visited the museum in New York, NY, and the curator of the museum took the time to meet with them. "While we were in New York, the curator told us that the mastodon evolved first, then the mammoth and then to the elephant. Lucy advised on the sign at the museum it mistakenly acknowledged that the prehistoric mastodon was found in Shannon County, instead of Tripp County. and have the correct information on file, however to change the glass informational sign would be a huge cost to the museum. There is also unverified accounts of a three-toed horse and petrified turtle that were supposedly found in the same area. No one seems to be able to verify this as fact. According to Mrs. Sorber, she doesn't recall this ever to be. However, in Troxell's obituary it makes mention of an early one-toed horse, which he named Pliohippus luilianus and a rhinoceros that was named Peraceras troxelli that were found at the same site as the prehistoric elephant. Jan Forgey and her fiance, Dr. Liong H. Tee, an artist, have completed an artwork recently for her parents to use as a little gift set for the lona students field trip. The artwork that features the prehistoric elephant is positioned in front of the hill of the actual site. You can view the art work on what the students received by visiting their website at www.happi hearts.com. Jan and Dr. Liong have been making 'happi hearts' with their artwork and inspirational quotes for school children in California and other institutions. "Their smiles are the best reward in our endeavor with Happi Hearts these last few years. This is the first opportunity I have had to do something for the children of South Dakota and we cherish it very much, " advised Jan. The animals were slightly larger then today's elephants. They had longer tusks that ranged up to sixteen feet long and were used for mating rituals, protection, and for digging through the snow for food. Their average weight was 13, 225 to 15.250 pounds. and the average height was twelve feet. The mammoths reached sexual maturity at ten to twelve years of age, the gestation period was probably about 22 months. The prehistoric elephants survived the brutal arctic temperatures with the help of stored of extra fat and hairy coats that covered their bodies. Mammoths were plant-eating animals. The remains of hazel and hombearm plants have been found in their stomach contents. Their teeth became well worn from chewing such food. Their teeth were almost identical to those living today. Both male and female mammoths had tusks. Mammoths living furthest north had a more difficult time finding food to feed on, due to the enormous area of frozen ground. Because of the cold climate in which they lived, their ears were much smaller than today's elephants. Predators were few, due to the enormous size of the full grown animals, and only the most fearless of predators would attempt to attack the mammoth. Man hunted them with axes and spears, using the carcasses for a variety of uses. They would eat the flesh, and would use the hide for clothing and for covering for their huts, which were octagon built with bones and tusks. The fearsome saber-tooth cat shared the same habitat and probably preyed on the young calves. The largest natural deposit of remains of the Colombian mammoth was unearthed in 1974, when a bulldozer operator unearthed the site in Hot Springs. So far, 52, mammoths have been uncovered. Scientists believe that there are at least 100 victims from long ago. buried at the Hot Springs site. * (Note: Dr. E.L. Troxell was born in 1884 and was only thirty-two years of age when he uncovered a part of history in South Dakota. He was born in Deshler, NE, and died at the age of 88 in 1972. He has written for the American Journal of Science, #192 and #193.) Museums no longer purchase prehistoric animals. and the sea levels were lower. Scientists continue to look for answers to the prehistoric puzzle as to what would cause a species to go extinct? Was climate change a factor? Did some catastrophic event take place, such as the impact of a meteor? Over huntingor disease? John and Lucy Forgey, rural Dallas, hosted the lona elementary students in May, for an afternoon of visiting the actual excavation site, where the first such animal had been found, explored another hillside referred to as 'Mother Grande, ' where prehistoric bones and ivory are still found today, and enjoyed homemade elephant sugar cookies. 'At one time, the SD School of Mines was interested in coming out and digging in the Mother Grande hillside, since it is believed that ? riother prehistoric elephant could be buried there, since pieces are found quite regularly, " advised Lucy. The School of Mines advised the Forgeys, "If there's one, there's more." John also shared his prehistoric finds such as a petrified tooth, pieces of ivory tusk, and Shoshone arrowheads that have been found on the property. He also has a 1887 nickel he found in Wyoming. John has taken some of the pieces he has found to the School of Mines in Rapid City "They said this stuff is eleven million years old, " stated John as he pointed out some of his.finds. It was back in 1916, in Eastview, south of Dallas, that a prehistoric elephant; gompohotherium productunv was discovered by homesteader/landowner, Roy Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh had learned of a man who was a 'book doctor, ' who was in Springview, NE, at the same time that he unearthed this magnificent animal. Brumbaugh traveled to Nebraska and brought the doctor back with him. It was a July morning that a tent appeared at the foot of the butte.. Prospect of new neighbors was always welcomed. However, neighbors were soon speculating as to why anyone would think that there's enough good farm land there to make it worth breaking rock and sand. The area was mostly used for cutting wild hay. Neighbors could see an individual moving about the tent, but could not determine what the person was up to, as there were no signs of lumber to build a home, nor did the individual have a horse. By afternoon, the questions were answered by Brumbaugh as he drove by the neighbors and informed them of what was happening. Brumbaugh advised that his name was Dr. Edward Leffingwell Troxeli, a book kind of doctor, who did not have anything to do with healing the sick. He continued to tell how he had come from a place called Ann Arbor, MI, and was a school teaching fellow, that had come to dig up the bones of old dragons. Everyone was in amazement that there was something of great importance that someone would want to spend the summer digging for. They learned that Roy had brought the man, his tools and equipment to the base of the butte. and helped him erect his tent. The news of the strange things taking place on the prairie hillside traveled throughout the area. Soon Dr. Troxell was receiving daily visitors at the site. He was very willing to explain his peculiar work to anyone who asked. Dr. Troxell become known to the area as the 'Bone Man.' They learned that he was a paleontologist from the University of Michigan, who had been working in northern Nebraska earlier in the summer. While he was in Nebraska he had heard a rumor, later verified, that a settler in the southern part of the county in South Dakota, while digging post holes had come across some peculiar bones. However, Mrs. Helen Sorber, the daughter of Roy told Lucy that her father had gone out to bring in the milk cows that evening after a heavy rain. He then noticed the tusks protruding through the ground about six inches and went to investigate. He had also learned that the farmer had spent themorning digging up bones with a spade. Dr. Troxell was pleased with the speci- mens were badly damaged by the crude and vigorous manner in which they had been excavated. Settlers and children often went and watched him work. To them it looked like a slow, tedious, and painstaking job that none of them had ever seen done. He used a small chisel to dig away bits of the earth, until a part of the specimen came to the surface. He would then brush off the last of dust from the bone with a soft paint brush. Most of the larger pieces were already cracked in several places and had to be removed in pieces. After they were removed, they were placed on a slab, positioned closely together, and then coated immediately with shellac to prevent any further disintegration from contact with air. He marveled over what had become his prize find, a jawbone measuring approximately five feet. From that he constructed for the area onlookers, the dimensions of the whole mastodon, a monster that most had never dreamed really existed. Some still refused to believe, even though the evidence was right in front of them. A lone isolated store, in Eastview, two miles from the site, eventually closed, due to others not building on the town site, soon became home to the bone man's specimens. Every evening he would take his daily finds to be housed in the abandoned store until the completion of the excavation. He bought a new padlock arid locked the building each night, to the amusement of the people who lived in the area, since no one had ever locked anything in the country Dr. TroxeH gave two lectures during his stay, one in Springview, NE, where he had previously found some specimens. By many request received from area settlers, he also held a lecture in the open air, with no platform, on a Sunday afternoon. Dr. Troxell's summer spent here so many years ago was a very important event for the area. After he completed the painstaking excavation of the prenis-toric elephant that lived so many years ago. Troxell had it shipped see Ground page 8 |
| Creator | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. University Relations; |
| Subject | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; |
| Local Subject | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Museum of Geology
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| Digital Publisher | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Devereaux Library
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| Date | 2004-08-19 |
| Type | Text; Image |
| Format | image/jp2 |
| Source | Gregory Times Advocate |
| Language | eng |
| Relation | Is part of UPR clipping file. |
| Rights | Copyright 2004, Gregory Times Advocate. The original work may be protected by U. S. copyright law (Title 17, United States Code), which governs reproduction, distribution, public display, and other uses of protected works. Some uses may be legal with permission from the copyright holder if the use is fair use or within another legal exemption. The user of this work is responsible for compliance with the law. |
| Submitting Institution | Devereaux Library. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. |
| Note | Courtesy of Gregory Times Advocate |
| Date Digital | 2009 |
| Rights holder | Gregory Times Advocate
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| CONTENTdm number | 825 |
| CONTENTdm file name | 826.jp2 |
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