Mastodon Dig Picture
Picture of Mastodon Dig at Angola, Louisiana)
This is a photograph of past excavation work at the Angola Mastodon Site at Angola, Louisiana. Face of dirt pit has been cut back into loess in order that the area containing the mammoth bones can be exposed on flat surface where the bones can described, drawn, and plaster jacketed. Paleontologists from the Department of Geology at Louisiana State University excavate bones, while archaeologists and prison personnel at top of hill examine historical, 19th century, burial exposed by gully.
Note the free-standing, vertical walls that characterize loess exposures. The dark horizon within loess exposed at top of cut immediately below archaeologists is weathered loess that is part of the modern soil.
(NOTE: For more information about loess, there is the Illinois State Museum exhibit on loess .)
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Version 4.0
Dec 18, 2001
Copyright © 1996-2002 Paul V. Heinrich All rights reserved.