About Fossils

The fossils and geologic features at Tule Springs represent resources that Nuwu/Nuwuvi ancestors interacted with thousands of years ago that continue into the present and
future. Fossils preserve evidence of past life through time. Over tens of thousands of years, animals visited the wetland environments of Tule Springs and left behind their remains. The complete record of animals and plants known from the Las Vegas Formation (fossil-rich sediments of Tule Springs) is still growing, and has been compiled from decades of paleontology research. The vertebrate (animals with a backbone) fauna from Tule Springs Fossil Beds is scientifically significant and unique, so it has its own name: The Tule Springs Local Fauna (Scott et al. 2017).

 

 

A flight above Tule Springs Fossil Beds 23,000-18,000 years ago. A teratorn flies over the Upper Las Vegas wash with a twelve-foot wingspan.  Herds of mammoths, horses, camels, and bison travel through spring-fed streams in search of food and water.

NPS Image | Julius Csotonyi

How old are the fossils at Tule Springs?

Although the rock record of Tule Springs dates to over 570,000 years ago, fossils are found in sediments that are 100,000-12,500 years old. These plants and animals lived and died during a time called the Pleistocene Epoch (ply-stuh-seen eh-puhk). During the Pleistocene, or the last Ice Age, the world was cooler. Large ice sheets formed high in North America, expanding during glacial periods, and shrinking during interglacial periods. Although there were no large glaciers or ice sheets at Tule Springs at that time, it was much cooler and wetter than it is today.

 

Top: A Ram's horn snail shell fossil preserved in Ice Age sediments
Bottom: A Columbian mammoth tusk being excavated

Top: NPS Photo
Bottom: San Bernardino County Museum Photo

What kinds of fossils are there?

From wetland snails the size of a sesame seed, to 12-foot-long Columbian mammoth tusks, there are many different kinds of fossils found at Tule Springs.

Vertebrate Fossils

Vertebrate fossils, or remains of animals with a backbone, include both extinct and extant (still living) species. Fossils belonging to extinct species are mostly from very large mammals and were part of the Pleistocene megafauna. They include the Columbian mammoth, ancient camel, ancient horses, ancient bison, giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cat, dire wolf, and the American lion. The vertebrate fossil record of Tule Springs also includes species who no longer live at Tule Springs, but remain in other parts of North America. They include fish, pronghorn, deer, and the yellow-bellied marmot. Many animals and plants that live at Tule Springs today are also found in the fossil record. They include coyote, mountain lion, jackrabbit, birds of prey, small rodents, badger, lizards and snakes.

Invertebrate Fossils

Invertebrate fossils, or the remains of animals without backbones, include mostly extant (still living) genera. They belong to mollusks like gastropods (snails) and bivalves (clams), and crustaceans like ostracods. It is difficult to identify mollusk fossils to species because the soft tissue of their bodies have decayed long ago. These shelled organisms lived within ancient wetlands or wet meadows. Often, invertebrate fossils can give valuable clues to interpret past environments because these animals prefer specific water conditions and habitat types.

Plant Fossils

While rare, there are plant fossils documented in the Tule Springs fossil record. Paleontologists have found impressions of plant leaves, stems, and bark within the Las Vegas Formation. Additionally, fossil pollen has been recovered from Tule Springs. The plant fossils of Tule Springs belong to water-loving species, like cattails, cottonwood trees, and ash trees. Desert plants are also documented, such as globemallow, saltbush, and sagebrush. Fossil pollen is also commonly found from juniper and pine trees. Today, these species are found high into the mountain foothills, where it is cooler and wetter than in the valley.

 

The Pleistocene Megafauna went extinct in North America and Tule Springs at the end of the last Ice Age. From left to right: dire wolf, bison, American lion, horses, giant ground sloth, camel, saber-toothed cat, and Columbian mammoth.

NPS Image | Beth Zaiken

What happened to Ice Age plants and animals?

Over 30 types of large mammals went extinct in North America toward the end of the Pleistocene Epoch about 12,000-10,000 years ago. The cause of this extinction is still under investigation. The most strongly-supported hypotheses include a changing climate, human hunting, or a combination of those factors.

At Tule Springs over time, the climate warmed and wetlands dried up. Large mammals disappear from the fossil record of Tule Springs about 12,500 years ago. Other plants and animals moved high into the mountain foothills, where it is cooler and wetter than in the valley. Some persevered and adapted to a changing environment. Many animals and plants that live at Tule Springs today are also found in the fossil record.

 

A partial fossil vertebra rests on the ground at Tule Springs. Fossils often blend into the surrounding sediment.

NPS Photo | L.Parry

Where can I see fossils?

There are thousands of fossils beneath your feet at Tule Springs Fossil Beds! They are often hard to spot without a trained eye because they blend into the surrounding sediment.
To maximize your chance of seeing fossils from Tule Springs, here are some tips:

• Visit one of our traveling exhibits
• Attend a Ranger-Guided Hike
• Visit the nearby Ice Age Fossils State Park Visitor Center
  • Many of the fossils collected from Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument are part of the fossil display exhibits here
  • Open Wednesday - Sunday from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • $3 day use fee per person (children 12 and under are free)
  • This is a Nevada State Park - does not accept America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Lands Pass

 

Fossils can only be collected with an approved NPS Scientific Research and Collection Permit. Paleontologists have specialized knowledge and training to properly document and collect fossils.

NPS Photo | L. Parry

Can I collect or dig for fossils?

The fossils at Tule Springs Fossil Beds are protected under Federal Laws and Regulations. You may only dig or collect fossils with an approved National Park Service Scientific Research and Collection Permit. Leave fossils where they are found.

It is exciting to find a fossil, but important to protect it. If you find a fossil at Tule Springs Fossil Beds, leave the fossil where it is, take a photo, and share your discovery with park staff. Removing fossils from the sites where they were found causes most of the interesting and valuable information about that fossil to be lost forever.

Our Nation's fossils are important and irreplaceable storytellers. We can all work together to preserve our heritage for this generation and the next. Photographs and drawings make for wonderful souveniers of your trip to Tule Springs Fossil Beds.