Montbrook Site, Florida - Day 3 Tooth Day

March 24, 2017 - Friday

Back in the sand this morning, I started cleaning around that fragile bone I found yesterday.  My tool struck something hard, and I could just see something between sand grains that was whitish.  I kept moving sand and realized I'd found turtle.

TURTLE!

I spent a good part of the morning working around this turtle, finding bits of things.  I found gar scales, fish spines, another turtle toe, and other shell fragments while clearing that space.  I was excited.  It seems, though, that veterans of this dig had gotten to the point where they felt "Oh, another turtle."  That's okay - it is my first turtle!

Dr. Bruce McFadden, FLMNH Curator
of Vertebrate Paleontology

At lunch, I met Dr. Bruce McFadden, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Florida Museum at the University of Florida in Gainsville.  He is planning a trip to the Badlands of North Dakota this summer.  He mentioned looking for ways to promote ancient history (paleontology, geology, etc.) studies by young people, perhaps using the most recent technologies available.

Terri Tydings - in the red shirt, standing

Around this time of day, a tooth was found that caused quite the stir.  It is likely the tooth, the cusp of a molar, of a juvenile bear!

Art Poyer with a rhino tooth

Then Art Poyer found a rhino tooth, in nearly the same level of the quarry.  Also a juvenile, this and the other tooth add to the possibility that this spot was an oxbow of a river, collecting parts that washed downstream.







Meanwhile, I continued clearing my square.  Both the turtle shell and limb bone have been removed so either I, or the next one assigned to the square can look for more.  I know they're there.  I saw the hints.

Bones in my square