Tri-Cities, Washington – Just outside Kennewick is an archaeological dig dating back to the Ice Age.
The main attractions of the excavations are the remains of an ancient mammoth, which is believed to have grazed the plains around the Tri-Cities 15,000 years ago. Officials at the excavation site say they estimate the Colombian mammoth was more than 10 feet tall and continued to unearth.
On June 1, the second part of the travel season begins. Leaders say it’s the best time to plan a guided or even organizational excursion to some of the region’s most compelling stories that lie beneath our feet. Tickets are only $10 and children under the age of ten are free. Excavation officials say all of the budget raised goes directly to major operations at the site.
“We’re offering a slideshow in our excavation. It’s about mammoths, and it helps other people get their bearings on what to look for there. “”Then we put them on display around the excavation space with some displays of bones that we’ve recovered. We take a look at our bone lab, where we clean and maintain bones. “Then we head to the excavation site, where they take a look at the site where the bones came from. “
Since the beginning of excavations in 2010, more than a hundred fragments and bones of the animal have already been found. Kleinnecht says a lot is already being learned about the domain and its implication in the Ice Age or the Missoula floods.
Leaders of the mammoth excavation say it’s the small pieces that paint a bigger picture of the area, its climate and, of course, its inhabitants thousands of years ago.
“The last hurdle of the excursion is our washing stations, where we collect all the soil from our excavation and wash it with a very fine sieve, to remove the small remnants of life that have lived and died in the landscape over time. About 17,000 years ago, Kleinknecht tells us, “We’re conducting a paleoenvironmental study. We need to know what life has been like in this domain since the time of the mammoth.
The fund’s leaders say they are still in need of donations and are recently accepting volunteer programs. The condition is to go on an excursion beforehand.
As an educator, Gary Kleinknecht says it’s exciting to see other people interested in Hitale. This is a real special opportunity for the Tri-Cities, and especially for the kids. The owner has been letting us paint on his assets for about 14 years. ” Gary, he says. “He’s just a glorious owner, and he just needs us to share what we’re doing with the community. For children, we need to divulge them to the past. We need to be told a story. that they would rarely have in school. “
You can read more about how to make plans here. You can send an email about schools to: school-tours@mcbones. org. You can stay up to date with the excavations on their Facebook page here.
If you have taken the excursion and would like to volunteer right now and on the third weekend of the month, you can learn more by emailing Neil Mara at volontaire@mcbones. org or calling 509-730-9340.