[Lillie767]

Who knew?


"Researchers discovered the trove of gomphothere bones at the site, a large-scale excavation area near Gainesville known as the Montbrook Site, in 2022. Although excavators had unearthed some gomphothere bones there before, the team was surprised when a volunteer found the remains of an especially large individual. "

https://www.livescience.com/animals/...hed-in-florida

[wizrap]

Yes, how wild is that? The site is about an hour south of me.

[Lillie767]

Originally Posted by wizrap

Yes, how wild is that? The site is about an hour south of me.

Yeah- I was quite surprised.


I thought there would be more comments about this.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Lillie767

Yeah- I was quite surprised.


I thought there would be more comments about this.

I read about it, and saw this thread. Showed my kids, and now am curious and kind of want to go out there.

That being said, until I read up more on that site and the areas around it, I have little to comment about. It's quite fascinating. What I am especially curious about is how the continents looked at that time, to where animal species made it to such widespread parts of the world. Where was Florida in relation to Africa, for instance? (Yes, I know there are theories. Still amazing.)

[wizrap]

Here’s a link from the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida; since the site is on private land, members of the public can’t visit.

However, this link has lots of information on the history of the site, what they think happened, and volunteers can even sign up to help at the dig. You have to be at least 18 years of age, and they will train you. You can also volunteer at the museum to help categorize and clean the bones and fossils. Info is found under “Get Involved.”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...m2cnz9pXuLNyO4

[AndySipowicz]

Originally Posted by wizrap

Here’s a link from the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida; since the site is on private land, members of the public can’t visit.

However, this link has lots of information on the history of the site, what they think happened, and volunteers can even sign up to help at the dig. You have to be at least 18 years of age, and they will train you. You can also volunteer at the museum to help categorize and clean the bones and fossils. Info is found under “Get Involved.”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...m2cnz9pXuLNyO4

Thanks for that, I had no idea FL had a Museum of Natural History. As much as I loathe the Gators (), I might need to plan a trip up there on one of my returns (I'm moving this month).

[1insider]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

What I am especially curious about is how the continents looked at that time, to where animal species made it to such widespread parts of the world. Where was Florida in relation to Africa, for instance? (Yes, I know there are theories. Still amazing.)

The continents had been separated at least a hundred million years before these elephants were born. Six million years ago this elephant graveyard was probably close to the southern tip of what little of Florida was above water. It probably submerged and re-emerged a few times between the elephants' deaths and now.

[jmking]

Originally Posted by 1insider

The continents had been separated at least a hundred million years before these elephants were born. Six million years ago this elephant graveyard was probably close to the southern tip of what little of Florida was above water. It probably submerged and re-emerged a few times between the elephants' deaths and now.

That's my thinking too. Much of Florida's history is underwater.

[1insider]

Originally Posted by jmking

That's my thinking too. Much of Florida's history is underwater.

It's pretty mind blowing to imagine Clearwater Beach 100 miles west of it's current location yet that's where the coast was during the last Ice Age, just 20,000 years ago. Even as recently as 6000 years ago, the beach was as far from Frenchies on the beach as Lakeland is from Frenchies now.