All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. Park Paleontology news provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources.
- Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the newsletter editor
- Learn more about Fossils & Paleontology
- Celebrate National Fossil Day with events across the nation
-
Petrified Forest National Park
Article 1: Survey of New Park Lands at Petrified Forest National Park
During 2004 Congress authorized the expansion of the Petrified Forest National Park boundary to preserve important paleontological and archeological resources. A team of paleontologists, under the supervision of Bill Parker and Adam Marsh, have documented nearly 300 new fossil localities in the new lands added to the park. This article features the incredible paleontological work and discoveries documented at Petrified Forest National Park. Read more
-
Article 2: Junior Paleontologist Educational Kits
Beginning in 2012, National Fossil Day partner Paul Roth began to support National Fossil Day through the creation of outstanding Fossil Education Kits to support paleontology education and outreach. To date, Paul has donated 18 fossil education kits to parks across the NPS, fostering wonderful fossil-focused opportunities for park rangers and park visitors. Read more
-
Dinosaur National Monument
Article 3: Park Paleontologist Retires
After 38 years serving as the paleontologist at Dinosaur National Monument, Dan Chure retires from the National Park Service in 2017. Dan is recognized for his many contributions to the paleontology at Dinosaur National Monument and for the National Park Service. Dan will continue to conduct research and publish during his retirement. Read more
-
White Sands National Park
Article 4: Much More than a Sand Box: Fossil Tracks from the Lakes of the World’s Largest Gypsum Dune Field
Beginning in 2009 staff at White Sands National Monument began documenting Late Pleistocene vertebrate footprints. Under the leadership of the monument's chief of resources, David Bustos, thousands of fossil tracks of ice age mammals is now recognized as a megatracksite. A multidisciplinary team of scientists have been working to understand the sedimentology, stratigraphy, chronology and paleoenvironmental of the track bearing strata at White Sands NM. Read more
-
National Mall and Memorial Parks
Article 5: 2017 National Fossil Day Celebration
National Fossil Day 2017 represents the eighth year of a nationwide partnership which promotes the scientific and educational value of fossils. The National Fossil Day partnership has expanded to include 350 partners across the U.S., with partners in every state providing more opportunities for fossil education for the public. Read more
-
Death Valley National Park
Article 6: Viva DEVA: A Valley of Death, Full of Life
During 2017, paleontology intern Matthew Ferlicchi expanded our understanding of the expansive fossil record at Death Valley National Park. Matthew's backcountry hiking skills enabled him to venture to several remote fossil localities in the park which led to new discoveries. Two of the discoveries has generated interest by two teams of paleontologists to initiate paleontological research at Death Valley National Park. Read more