Poison Ivy Quarry
The site where a baby rhino jaw was discovered in a ravine by paleontologist Mike Voorhies in 1971. There were no other fossils visible in the area at that time. However, exploratory digging showed the fossil was attached to a full skeleton. This led to the finding of more skeletons in the volcanic ash next to the baby rhino and more back into the hill and the area that is currently covered by the Hubbard Rhino barn. More than 50 years after this initial find new discoveries continue as research and excavation of the ash bed continues.
Poison Ivy Quarry View One
Discovery site of the baby rhino jaw
What was the significance of this location?
In answering the question consider the following:
- What were some of the clues that led Mike Voorhies that fossils may be found in this location?
- What was the first fossil that Voorhies found?
- What was important about this fossil?
- How many more fossils did Voorhies find after excavating the first one?
- By finding these fossils so quickly, what did that tell Voorhies about this site?
- What year did they organize the dig?
- How large an area did the paleontologists excavate?
- What were two other animals found in this dig besides rhinos?
- Why did Voorhies want to use hand tools instead of power tools for the dig?
- What are some of the hand tools that they were using?
- Why did some of the people digging wear masks?
- How is fossil digging similar to farming?
- What short-legged animal in Africa today is similar to the rhinos at Ashfall?
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