Fossil Mammals from Caves of Black Hills, SD

Fossil Mammals from Caves of Black Hills, SD
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Steve getting ready to go down into the cave.

Steve getting ready to go down into the cave.

Steve going down into the cave.

Steve going down into the cave.

An 1850 lb wench (left) was used for entrance/exit from the cave as well as removal of cave matrix. A secondary rope line with emergency brake was used as backup to the wench.

Cave material was placed in trash bags, then enclosed in these white tie bags. These bags were placed inside the black canvas bags and attached to the wench for extraction from the cave.

Jim Cornette & Steve Porter operate the lines to extract cave matrix to the surface.

In the cave: Jim Cornette marking the grid where we were excavating.

Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.

Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.

Formations in the cave's "big room" - floor

Flowstone in the cave's "big room".

Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling. Note soda straw formations.

Looking from the end of the "big room" back to the smaller, lighted room where Jim Cornette was working. This is a large cave and this image should give you the perspective necessary.

Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling/wall.

Soda straw formations on the ceiling at the very end of the cave's "big room".

Cracked formations in the cave's "big room".

Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.

Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.

Steve Jackson, University of Wyoming, after arriving back at the surface.

Left to right: Jim Cornette, Eric Grim, Steve Jackson discuss the cave.

Angela Matthias prepares to go into the cave. Abraham Penner mans the ropes.

Teeth of woodrat (Neotoma)

Limb bones and vertebrate of small mammals

below ruler: ulna, 2 ribs, lower jaw and lower incisor tooth of rodents

rodent bones

lower jaws of cricetine rodents (mice), femur and metapodial bone of rodents

rodent ulna (large bone, center-right)

rodent ribs

rodent bones from screenwash

rodent vertebra and lower jaw (squirrel?)

Squirrel? lower jaw (labial view)

Squirrel? lower jaw (lingual view)

At entrance to Don's Gooseberry Pit.

At entrance to Don's Gooseberry Pit.

At screen washing site, a pond on Forest Service land.

At screen washing site, a pond on Forest Service land.

At screen washing site, a pond on Forest Service land.

Screen washing material from cave. We attempted to pick out extraordinary specimens during this process.

Screen washed material drying before being re-bagged. Note variety of colors.

On a side trip to a site to collect tourmaline and quartz.

Tourmaline in rose quartz.

Steve Wagner adds some comedy to the long day of screen washing.

"Controlled" burn on Forest Service land.

"Controlled" burn on Forest Service land.

A road near screen washing site.

Screen washing pond.

Screen washing pond.
$Dinner in Pringle on Thursday night.\nPat Ervin & son Jamie, Sue Ware, Abe$

Dinner in Pringle on Thursday night.
Pat Ervin & son Jamie, Sue Ware, Abe

Dinner in Pringle on Thursday night.

Steve getting ready to go down into the cave.	Steve getting ready to go down into the cave.	Steve going down into the cave.	Steve going down into the cave.
An 1850 lb wench (left) was used for entrance/exit from the cave as well as removal of cave matrix. A secondary rope line with emergency brake was used as backup to the wench.	Cave material was placed in trash bags, then enclosed in these white tie bags. These bags were placed inside the black canvas bags and attached to the wench for extraction from the cave.	Jim Cornette & Steve Porter operate the lines to extract cave matrix to the surface.	In the cave: Jim Cornette marking the grid where we were excavating.
Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.	Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.	Formations in the cave's "big room" - floor	Flowstone in the cave's "big room".
Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling. Note soda straw formations.	Looking from the end of the "big room" back to the smaller, lighted room where Jim Cornette was working. This is a large cave and this image should give you the perspective necessary.	Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling/wall.	Soda straw formations on the ceiling at the very end of the cave's "big room".
Cracked formations in the cave's "big room".	Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.	Formations in the cave's "big room" - ceiling.	Steve Jackson, University of Wyoming, after arriving back at the surface.
Left to right: Jim Cornette, Eric Grim, Steve Jackson discuss the cave.	Angela Matthias prepares to go into the cave. Abraham Penner mans the ropes.	Teeth of woodrat (Neotoma)	Limb bones and vertebrate of small mammals
below ruler: ulna, 2 ribs, lower jaw and lower incisor tooth of rodents	rodent bones	lower jaws of cricetine rodents (mice), femur and metapodial bone of rodents	rodent ulna (large bone, center-right)
rodent ribs	rodent bones from screenwash	rodent vertebra and lower jaw (squirrel?)	Squirrel? lower jaw (labial view)
Squirrel? lower jaw (lingual view)	At entrance to Don's Gooseberry Pit.	At entrance to Don's Gooseberry Pit.	At screen washing site, a pond on Forest Service land.
At screen washing site, a pond on Forest Service land.	At screen washing site, a pond on Forest Service land.	Screen washing material from cave. We attempted to pick out extraordinary specimens during this process.	Screen washed material drying before being re-bagged. Note variety of colors.
On a side trip to a site to collect tourmaline and quartz.	Tourmaline in rose quartz.		Steve Wagner adds some comedy to the long day of screen washing.
"Controlled" burn on Forest Service land.	"Controlled" burn on Forest Service land.	A road near screen washing site.	Screen washing pond.
Screen washing pond.	$Dinner in Pringle on Thursday night.\nPat Ervin & son Jamie, Sue Ware, Abe$ Dinner in Pringle on Thursday night. Pat Ervin & son Jamie, Sue Ware, Abe	Dinner in Pringle on Thursday night.