Ashfall Fossil Beds To Host Fossil ID Day On Saturday

From News Partner US92

While many people visit Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park every year to see fossils, this weekend fossils from the outside will take center stage.

The park’s annual Fossil and Artifact ID Day is set for this Saturday, August 8, which will give those interested the ability to bring out a potential fossil or artifact to be identified. Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park Superintendent Rick Otto says Saturday’s event is a chance for people find out if the knick-knack or rock they have in their homes has a special story behind it.

“We also have folks that may have a rock sitting in their garage and they’ve always been curious what it is and never had a chance to have it identified. This is an opportunity for this as well.”

Otto says they’ve been doing ID Day for about 15 years, an event which they try to do once a year toward the end of the summer. Otto adds that over the years, they’ve seen everything from rare arrowheads to fossils from elephants and various pottery.

“Sometimes we get to see unusual fossils that may be say, jawbones from prehistoric elephants, rhinos, and camels. It just covers a wide range of items.”

The event runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the park near Royal. Retired paleontologist Dr. Mike Voorhies and archaeologist Rob Bozell will set up and identify the items people bring to their tables. It’s a setup similar to the popular program ‘Antiques Roadshow’, with tables in front of the visitors center set up for the artifacts and fossils to be examined by Voorhies and Bozell.