The Mammoth Site, discovered in 1974 in Hot Springs, stewards the largest concentration of Columbian mammoth remains on the planet. The resulting facility is a fascinating stop for tourists and other visitors. But the mission of the Mammoth Site goes well beyond capturing the imaginations of travelers.
The Mammoth Site is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, so the work that is being conducted there is held to a higher research standard. “We’re first and foremost an educational and research facility,” explains Presston Gabel, COO of the Mammoth Site.
Presston also explains that the research of the Mammoth Site isn’t just restricted to the incredible fossil deposit discovered in Hot Springs. In an effort to understand more about the Ice Age, the researchers at the Mammoth Site study geological and paleontological sites all over North America.
But what’s the practical value in knowing more about the Ice Age? Dr. Jim Mead, Director of Research at the Mammoth Site, explains one concrete example: “We and colleagues have measured thousands of heel bones from ancient bison from all across North America. What we’ve discovered is that the warmer the temperature gets, the smaller bison become.” This phenomenon has some very practical implications for bison ranchers today — a smaller bison might mean less profit.
That’s just one example of the value that the Mammoth Site is providing, not just for paleontology, but for applications all over the world. As Dr. Mead says, “We look at the past to see what may potentially happen tomorrow.” And that idea has value in every sector of life.
1800 US-18 BYP
Hot Springs, SD 57747
mammothsite.org