Prospecting For Vertebrate Fossils On Hot Summer Days In Southwestern Montana

The end of July always brings The Webb School students who are interested in paleontology to southwestern Montana. That time is packed with prospecting a variety of Tertiary sites in the hopes of finding interesting vertebrate fossils. This year had its good finds along with persevering through some really hot days. Being on a surface of light-colored rocks under the intense sun while slowly looking for fossils such as rodent jaws, rabbit teeth, or even isolated horse teeth is a tough way to spend a summer day. Even prospecting for larger pieces of fossil vertebrates is no easy day, but the students hung in there. Here’s a few scenes from the prospecting adventures:

The late Eocene strata at Pipestone held the students attention for many hours — The late Eocene strata in the Pipestone area west of Whitehall held the students attention for many hours.

Late Tertiary outcrops north of Whitehall, Montana, yielded some interesting horse and camel remains. — Late Tertiary outcrops north of Whitehall, Montana, yielded some interesting horse and camel fossils.

A horse jaw and at least part of the skull was found in late Tertiary strata. — A horse jaw and at least part of the skull were found in late Tertiary strata located near Whitehall.

Still searching for that elusive fossil.... — Still searching for that elusive fossil in the North Boulder Valley….

Late Tertiary canid dog skull fossil find from last season's Webb School paleo students' efforts. Skull is now at the Museum of the Rockies. — Late Tertiary canid dog skull fossil find from last season’s Webb School paleo students’ efforts. The skull is now at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.

For those truly interested in vertebrate paleontology, keep in mind that the renowned Raymond Alf Museum is also on the Webb Schools campus. The museum is definetly worth a visit.

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