Who: Jane Peterson of Highlands Ranch
Where: The Mammoth Site, Hot Springs
Out and about: The Mammoth Site is a must-see stop if you are visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota. The fully enclosed visitor center is a 26,000-year-old sinkhole where at least 54 male mammoths died. Earthwatch Institute volunteers dig during July each year. As part of this summer’s Earthwatch group, I uncovered part of a mammoth skull and a rib. The bones are left in situ for the visitors to see. Because more bones are uncovered each year, it is an ever-changing exhibition.
Travel tip: Junior Paleontology digs are available daily during the summer for children ages 4-13. Reservations are recommended. For more information on The Earthwatch Institute and the many volunteer opportunities around the globe, go to org. Additional Mammoth Site information can be found at mammothsite.com.
