Paleontology Program

Science is stewardship. The Tule Springs Fossil Beds Paleontology Program helps us manage unique and significant fossils and their geologic context using scientific principles and expertise. Fossils have amazing stories to tell. We can use our knowledge of the past, emerging techniques, and new findings to preserve our shared geoheritage.

 

 

Paleontological Research Permits

Researchers must have an approved Research Permit through the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System to initiate their work. To inquire about research priorities or assistance with a research project, please contact us via email. Learn more about NPS Research Permits...

 

Related Research
Fossils & Paleontology

Source: Data Store Collection 9639. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

 

Fossil inventory projects involve both fieldwork and museum collections work. Top: A Paleontological Monitor hikes the Las Vegas Formation in search of new fossil sites. Bottom: TUSK staff pore over historic field notes and locality records.

Top: NPS Photo
Bottom: Eric Scott Photo

Paleontological Inventories

In order to protect and manage fossils within our National Park places, we must first know what is out there. Paleontological Inventory projects focus on collecting baseline data on what fossil resources are present and where they are found. This process includes both fieldwork and museum collection inventories. There are currently over 680 documented fossil sites within Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. Thousands more fossils are found within museum collections at repositories accross North America.

Paleontological inventories involve detailed and time-consuming work, but offer valuable data for park resource managers, researchers, and educators. We are still at work uncovering over 90 years of paleontological fieldwork at Tule Springs.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds staff and partners work closely with the National Park Service Paleontology Program on inventory projects. Learn more about the national fossil inventory program...

 

A Paleontological Monitor applies a specialized glue to a fossil vertebra. Right: A fossil vertebra was monitored at TUSK in 2020 (upper) and again in 2021 (lower). Note the erosion of the surrounding sediment in just one year!

NPS Photos | L. Parry

Paleontological Monitoring

The paleontological site monitoring program at Tule Springs Fossil Beds allows us to monitor previously documented fossil sites for changes in fossil condition, natural erosion, and human-caused disturbances. Wind, water, and the hot desert sun can erode away at fragile fossils and crumble the soft sediment. Why not collect every single fossil instead? With hundreds of known fossil sites, Tule Springs Fossil Beds is the largest open-air Ice Age fossil site in Mojave Desert. Leaving fossils where they are found is the most practical solution. Depending on the status and condition of different fossil sites, they are given low, medium, and high priority values to help create a realistic and appropriate schedule for how often they should be visited by a site monitor.

Although fossil excavations are rare at the park today, this program also helps preserve historic excavation sites from the 1930’s, 50's, and 60’s that are still intact. These sites are extra vulnerable to vandalism and erosion and are now monitored quarterly by additional volunteer paleontology site stewards. The Tule Springs Fossil Beds paleontological site monitoring program helps to accurately document and preserve fragile and precious fossil resources and the stories they tell for generations to come.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds staff and partners work closely with the National Park Service Paleontology Program on inventory projects. Learn more about the national fossil monitoring program...

 

A scientist photographs a fossil bison skull for photogrammetric analysis at the Nevada State Museum Las Vegas. Photogrammetry allows us to make 3-D models of museum specimens using overlapping photography.

NPS Photo | L. Parry

Museum Collections

Over the last 90+ years, paleontological expeditions and fieldwork in the Tule Springs area have created several museum collections housed at various museum repositories. The National Park Service manages a paleontological museum collection from Tule Springs Fossil Beds that is reposited at the Nevada State Museum Las Vegas. Several other paleontological museum collections from what is now Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada State Museum.

National Park Service paleontological museum collections are available for scientific research projects with an approved permit. For inquiries about Tule Springs Fossil Beds museum collections and research, please contact our Integrated Resources Program Manager via email.