Mammoth Site celebrates 50th Anniversary with ‘Mammoth Days’

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - 50 years of excavating mammoth fossils in Hot Springs.

The Mammoth Site is celebrating its 50th anniversary by Hosting Mammoth Days running today and Saturday.

It’s a celebration in the making since 1974 and what may be ahead on the path to discovery.

“Fast forward 50 years, we’re one of the largest concentration of mammoth remains anywhere in the world. And this is a way for us as the mammoth site just to kind of give back and say, ‘thank you’ for 50 years of celebration,” said the business manager of the Mammoth Site Presston Gabel.

The popular paleontological dig site and museum began with humble beginnings. In June 1974, a housing development was halted after a mammoth tusk was discovered at the same location where the site is today.

Since then, the site has dug up 60 mammoths’ fossils and possibly more to come.

“Right now, we still have lots of space in here that’s unexplored area and so we’re focusing on some of those areas this field season. But, yeah, lots of digging to be done. I, this place will still be being worked on long after I’m gone, I think,” said the director of research of the Mammoth Site Dr. Chris Jass.

Dr. Jass says the site can be heavy on mammoth fossil findings, however, the site has made fossil findings of other animals.

“We’ve found other ice age animals like the giant short-faced bear which is a bear that stood six feet tall when it was down on all four legs. So, a bear that can stand on four legs and look me in the eyes is a fairly intimidating thought,” Dr. Jass said.

Something that will be less intimidating are the Mammoth Day events including tonight’s barbecue and yard games from 6 to 8 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be more events for family and friends including bounce houses, food trucks, mock excavation areas for children to work in, and Q&A sessions.

“That’s one of the great things about this site is that it’s set up to be really engaging in terms of talking to visitors who are coming through, even the people in the bone bed excavating,” Dr. Jass said.

Mammoth Days will conclude with street dance and music from Wild Blue from 6 to 8 p.m.

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