Mammoth Site, Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USAi

Regional Level Types
Mammoth Site	- not defined -
Hot Springs	- not defined -
Fall River County	County
South Dakota	State
USA	Country

Within the city limits of Hot Springs, South Dakota is a unique geological feature. In 1974 during excavation for a new subdivision a construction worker found large mammoth bones in the soil. The significance of the site was soon understood and the landowner donated the site to a nonprofit organization for preservation. As work continued a large building was constructed over the site and currently there are 58 Columbian mammoths and 3 woolly mammoths exposed in-situ.

The concentration of so many mammoth remains resulted from the karst geology that surrounds the Hills. At this location a funnel shaped, water filled, sinkhole existed about 26,000 years ago. Animals that entered the pond of deep water could not climb out due to steep slippery banks. The accumulation of mammoth bones were not petrified and the age of the site was determined by carbon dating the hydroxyapatite in the bone. Other dating methods have suggested older dates.

In addition to the mammoth remains, the bones of other species have also been found including giant short-faced bears, shrub oxen, American camel, llama, wolves, coyotes, birds, minks, ferrets, prairie dogs, voles, moles, clams, snails, and slugs. The excavation has proceeded to a considerable depth providing many section cuts that show the sediment filling of the breccia pipe that formed the sinkhole.

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