In a place far away [Rochester Hills, MI] in a time long ago [Summer, 2006] an excavation crew came upon a once in a lifetime discovery— mastodon bones!
The bones were uncovered as workers were digging up a swampy area of M-59, around Adams Road. The project was put on hold as a geologist was called in to survey the scene.
The bones were uncovered as workers were digging up a swampy area of M-59, around Adams Road. The project was put on hold as a geologist was called in to survey the scene.
Click 'Read More' to read about our experience ↓↓↓
Experts concluded the bones were from a mastodon- not rock, as was originally thought. So a team of archaeologists got together to remove the bones.
The discovery included: some ribs, a four-foot leg bone, teeth, and my personal fave- a tusk! It’s estimated the bones are over 10,000+ years old.
The discovery included: some ribs, a four-foot leg bone, teeth, and my personal fave- a tusk! It’s estimated the bones are over 10,000+ years old.
If anyone knows me, they know I love me some mastodon [& wooly mammoths], so I threw the kids into the car and we trekked up to the wild, unknown country to check out Michigan’s official state fossil.
At Clinton River Trail, we parked in the adjacent lot and started walking to find this mastodon! It was a glorious, sun-filled day in the early morning, which turned out to be a great time for a visit. The pathway at the trailhead is wide and there are tons of people out and about- jogging and zooming through on bikes.
Waaay less than a mile on the trail, we saw a sign that indicated we were in the right place. The kids were excited and ran around trying to find the bones. So- let me break it down for you: there are no bones. We were kinda massively disappointed. Basically: the bones are on display at Cranbrook, so check out the museum's Institute of Science to view the actual bones.
At Clinton River Trail, we parked in the adjacent lot and started walking to find this mastodon! It was a glorious, sun-filled day in the early morning, which turned out to be a great time for a visit. The pathway at the trailhead is wide and there are tons of people out and about- jogging and zooming through on bikes.
Waaay less than a mile on the trail, we saw a sign that indicated we were in the right place. The kids were excited and ran around trying to find the bones. So- let me break it down for you: there are no bones. We were kinda massively disappointed. Basically: the bones are on display at Cranbrook, so check out the museum's Institute of Science to view the actual bones.
Here’s what you will find: a bench and a commemorative plaque- both cool, but NOT mastodon bones. Just trying to save y’all the disappointment, hahahaha- you know how that goes…
We hung out for a while and chatted about the bones— see, informational plaques are useful!--- then we hit the trail again and turned it into a nature walk by exploring The Great Outdoors.
We hung out for a while and chatted about the bones— see, informational plaques are useful!--- then we hit the trail again and turned it into a nature walk by exploring The Great Outdoors.
*Rockstar Tip*
Definitely go and check this excavation site out, just prep the kids ahead of time that they won't be seeing the actual bones. Frame it like a nature walk. Or make it a day trip: first check out the Adams Road site, then head over to Cranbrook to put that knowledge in context.
Definitely go and check this excavation site out, just prep the kids ahead of time that they won't be seeing the actual bones. Frame it like a nature walk. Or make it a day trip: first check out the Adams Road site, then head over to Cranbrook to put that knowledge in context.
RSS Feed
