CompuServe Thread

I am most familiar with the pleistocene and more recent holocene gravels here in Washington. Whether my experience is applicable to Wisconsin exposures is problematic. I have not found any vertebrate fossils in this state. With that disclaimer made…… I keep a close watch on local roadcuts through glacial tills and gravels, and occasionally traipse through local gravel pits looking for teeth and heavier bones. There have been local reports of mastodon and horse teeth being found but no clearcut hotspot. Given the published reports, I presume that the productive gravels in WI are stream deposits vs glacial till. Since most bone beds represent herd drownings with subsequent deposition of bones on sand or gravel beds. The remains are rarely articulated, rather existing as a hodgepodge of bones from many separate individuals. Consider the mechanics of hydraulic transport of bones as similar to the tranport of gemstones and heavy metals. They are found where stream velocities slow enough to drop out the heavier materials while still carrying the lighter sands and silts. With this in mind, one has to survey and prospect for bones in gravel much in the same manner as prospecting for gold. Look for gravel benches above dry stream beds (or wet ones as well). Watch the deposits for crossbedding ( a potential sign of gravel or sand bars from the past ). As for the Vilas location, if in mountainous terrain, look for exposures above the floor of streams or creeks. They started at a higher elevation than they are today. Watch the scree slopes of high clay or sandy gravel cliffs or slopes for weathered out material. If any is found (watch for woody or plant materials too), examine closer upslope, upvalley. If you find anything, I hope it was because of these wonderful hints. Happy New Year ! Michael