Fossil Dig 2010
Update 4 July 2010
Happy Fourth of July from Hell Creek!
Yesterday was Laurel's last day for this summer's field session. We were eager to get into the field and do our best to find fossil treasure. I was feeling very satisfied with my Triceratop's horn and other small goodies, and she would be thrilled to add a large fossil to her trophy from last season. Ron invted us to hunt on the "Tinker ranch" again so we drove out and parked the car near the dig site. We discussed possible locations and then we said good bye to Ron, since he was driving up to the fish site to assist in another attempt to load the jacketed paddle fish onto the trailer.
The weather was almost perfect: sunny skies, temperature high 60s and a brisk wind. No need for cooling vests. What a contrast to 24 hours earlier. We were delighted.
We decided to start walking about 100 yards left of the Tinker dig site, toward the bluff we had hunted earlier in the week. Staying close to the top of the formation, we kept our heads down and looked for the telltale "spill" of fossil material. We both found bits here and there but nothing to indicate anything significant.
Laurel found a very interesting bone that we found out today is probably from a dromaeosaurus. It is hollow (like a bird), and could be a limb bone which is very rare. The proximal end (end closest to the body) is unusual and may be an indication of some abnormality. Rob speculates that it could be the ulna (front lower arm bone). Though incomplete, it is beautiful.
She continued along the perimeter and I ventured down to the floor of the formation. Tricky business navigating the betonite and iron siderite and the occasional small cactus; while still looking for fossils. I was not chewing gum at the same time! I looked around a few places in the maze of the floor. I always checked behind me so I could find my way back up the hill. So easy to get lost down there. Not finding anything, I retraced my steps and climbed up to look for Laurel.
Just as I reached my starting point, she called to me and said she found a spill. I walked to her location and stooped down to take a look. Sure enough she had found a small microsite (one of my favorite places to gather tiny treasures). I took off my pack and settled down to comb the area. She picked up a few pieces and then continued her search of the perimeter. She was trying to locate a large fossil she had seen from our earlier walk with Ron from the top of the area.
Time stood still for me as I slowly scanned the surface for fossils. I found many, and had a most enjoyable and rewarding late morning. I was out of the wind but could hear it blowing in the grasses above me. The skies had become cloudy so the lighting was subdued. The occasional bird darted past, chirping. Insects buzzed and clicked. I was in heaven. We were prospecting for fossils all by ourselves and doing a fine job at that.
Laurel returned announcing that it was time for lunch. Good thing she was paying attention, since I was in a fossil euphoria and completely unaware of the passing hours. We sat there eating our usual lunch: rice tortillas with almond butter, carrot and celery sticks, cherries and maybe a little trail mix. The view was fabulous, the company divine, and though we had experienced a few sprinkles, the clouds were beginning to blow away. We both find this area to be exhilarating and renewing. We chat about all sorts of subjects or simply soak up the experience in contented silence. I know I try to capture the visceral sensations for later use when I am stressed about something or merely want to recall the bliss of the moment.
After lunch we decided to continue our trekking with a few side trips to lower sections, when we felt we could navigate safely. Laurel had moved onto a new area while I took a "break" and when I returned she had found some turtle shell. She is not that keen on keeping turtle shell, but these two (possibly more) pieces were in great condition and a beautiful grey color. Two of the pieces fit together perfectly so they probably broke in the spill over the siderite. (Just a guess)
This particular area was especially unstable for standing and walking due to the sharp edged siderite that littered the surface of betonite and sandstone. Kudos to Laurel for attempting to collect on that. She bagged the turtle somewhat reluctantly, I think, while I moved up and over to the left where we thought we might try an ascent. (We could not continue to the right.) I was reaching my left arm up to steady myself on the ground, while I looked for a secure foothold for my right foot, when my eye caught the sheen of tooth enamel sitting on top of siderite pieces on the crest of this spillway. The sun had just emerged and the light hitting the tooth was like a tiny beacon.
Don't get too excited...it was not a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth, but let me admit that it took my breath away. I had to tell myself to calm down and breathe and pay attention to the precarious position I was in. I was afterall sort of half clinging to the spillway and trying to find a way to sit comfortably while I got out a collecting bottle and grasped that tooth. It is all very complicated when you are trying to do all these motions and not injure yourself in the process. The siderite was digging into my knees but I dard not adjust my position until I had that tooth safely in my fingers and into the canister.
All this time Laurel is cheering my find and congratulating me and I am absolutely speechless. Whew! I don't know what it is about these things, but they have powerful magic. This tooth is particularly beautiful, and I was almost positive it is from a Nanotyrannosaur. The enamel is medium grey,(some enamel is worn off at the base). It has excellent quality serrations on both edges. It is a full inch long and almost one half inch at the base. The color was helpful in spotting it since the background was the reddish iron siderite. Color contrast helps in locating fossils, as does shape of the fossil, ie. vertebra, tooth, claw, toe bone etc. What a successful day so far for me. Many thanks.
Laurel was still hoping to locate the elusive fossil from that morning so we headed up to the top again to retrace our steps and spot it from above. Once on top we decided to unload our backpacks of the heavy fossil scrap we collected for donation and I wrapped the tooth in foil, replaced it in the container, and left it in the car. We grabbed more water bottles and decided to walk toward the bluff we had collected at earlier in the week, but this time try down in the maze of the floor of the formation. We saw some of the golden sand lower down and thought that might be fruitful. This color had been a good indicator of successful hunting for others.
We gave ourselves three hours to collect before we needed to leave and get ready for the dinner at Fred and Karen's ranch house (Tinker site ranch). The day was heating up and in the floor of the formation you lose the bit of breeze that is so refreshing up top. We each took a side of the formation to scout for spill or scrap.
I found a few pieces of scrap but no spill and Laurel found a spill with a little turtle and bone scrap. Our hour plus of walking proved fruitless and we were pretty frustrated. Then we were faced with the up hill climb back to the start. We determined that our workout schedule here in Hell Creek was alternating upper body (digging and lifting dirt) and lower body (walking up and down hills). Have to keep our spirits up.
Though a bit discouraged, we did not want to throw in the towel. We drove up to the excavation site and headed out from there. We chose a similar route to one we had covered before but with a few variations. All the while we were trying to reach the almost impossible to reach golden sandy bands. Attempting different approaches could not get us easily and safely to our goal. We had to admit that we were tired and that it might be prudent to call it a day and head back to the Tipperary Motel for a wonderful hot shower. We congratulated ourselves for our first successful fossil hunt without "adult" supervision. We were safe, and we had a marvelous time. Laurel, though disappointed, had a "perfect day", and I of course concurred.
Dinner at the ranch house was most enjoyable. Our hosts, Fred and Karn are generous friendly people who opened their home and hearts to us for the evening. Karen took all the students who were interested, out to meet the horses and let them have a quick ride. The owner of the ranch also came out for dinner and he was just as warm and welcoming. Laurel and I took the bottle of Red Ass Rhubarb wine and the watermelon to our hosts. Though they do not drink they insisted that we open the bottle. Since it was Laurel's last night and bones had been found on the Tinker site, we felt a mini celebration was in order. A toast to new friends and old bones! Drinking rhubarb wine one minute and then hearing Karen say the she baked a rhubarb crisp for dessert. What are the chances. I love it when that happens.
It was a great way to end a fabulous day.
We returned to the Motel to clean fossils and organize Laurel's stuff for her departure. She is leaving food and other supplies with me so that she can pack all of her fossils and does not have to ship them home. I spent hours cleaning fossils and cleaning up the room and once again did not go to bed until midnight. So tired.
This morning we had breakfast and packed the car for our trip to the Rapid City Airport. We were to meet Ron and Rob and others at the Cafe around nine. We arrived there earlier to find it closed (holiday) and Theresa in the parking lot waiting for Steve. He was to arrive any minute to pick up breakfast fixings and deliver them to the students. Once Steve arrived, Laurel asked if he would look at her fossils, and he obliged. After identifying them for her, they said their farewells and we returned to the motel to glue one of her fossils (Steve's insistence). She has a piece of iron siderite with a Triceratops tooth embedded in it. He said the tooth should be glued and the piece wrapped in foil for transport. Another unique and wonderful work of nature.
Ron called while we were at the motel and really wanted to see Laurel before she left. We agreed to meet him at the cafe parking lot in ten minutes. Good thing we had an early start. Ron arrived with Rob and they looked at Laurel's fossils and then checked out the Nano tooth (they both confirmed my ID), and a few other microsite finds. Out of the four specimens that I thought were teeth, two were bone. I still have so much to learn.
Good byes exchanged and we were finally on our way to Rapid City. By then we were behind schedule and I know Laurel was a bit nervous. Then we hit rain for almost and hour and a half. That slowed us down a little, in addition to the two lane roads with slow traffic and no passing. We stopped in Sturgis for T shirts...a yearly buying ritual for those Harley Davidson enthusiasts (Laurel's husband). We reached the airport 30 minutes before her flight. I helped her with her luggage and parked the car. I ran into the airport to pick up another map and to see if her luggage checked in OK under the weight limit. I caught her just as she was heading up to security. The luggage was good to go and so was she. It was very hard to say good bye to my dear friend and fossil lover. The next week will not be the same without her.
I quickly returned to the car and drove to the Walmart for supplies for my meals and some anti itch cream for the mosquito bites that are annoying me. I spoke to my mom on the phone and shared with her the highlights of the week. She is enjoying reading this blog and that makes me so happy. The ride back to Buffalo was gorgeous. The skies were blue with various cloud formations. I listened to a chanting CD and marveled again at the natural beauty of the Black Hills and the Badlands. How lucky am I. Thank you fossil gods and faries.
Cheers,
Christine, Momasaurus
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