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The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota is a museum and paleontological site near Hot Springs, South Dakota. It is an active paleontological excavation site at which research and excavations are continuing.

The area of Mammoth Site of Hot Springs enclose a prehistoric sinkhole that formed and was slowly filled with sediments during the Pleistocene era. The sedimentary fill of the sinkhole contains the remains of Pleistocene fauna and flora preserved by entrapment and burial within a sinkhole. This site has the greatest concentration of mammoth remains in the world.

As of 2016, the remains of 61 mammoths, including 58 North American Columbian and 3 woolly mammoths had been recovered. Mammoth bones were found at the site in 1974, and a museum and building enclosing the site were established. The museum now contains an extensive collection of mammoth remains.

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Warm artesian-fed spring waters created a pond that was attractive to wildlife. Findings at the site include the remains of megafauna such as giant short-faced bears along with those of shrub oxen, American camel, llama, wolves, coyotes, birds, minks, ferrets, prairie dogs, voles, and moles. Invertebrate discoveries include several species of clams, snails, and slugs.

The majority of the mammoth remains have been identified as those of Columbian Mammoths, although the remains of three Woolly mammoths have been found as well.

Mammoths that slipped into the sinkhole found it difficult to escape. Researchers measuring the pelvic bones of the remains have determined that most of the victims were young males.

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Short Faced Bear-

So how big was this bear anyway? When we think of modern grizzlies and polar bears their size is staggering, but this prehistoric monster was bigger still. On all fours it would have stood eye-to-eye with a 6ft grown man. Rearing up on their hind legs, some specimens would have topped twelve feet tall.

Large adult grizzly bears stand around nine feet tall, and polar bears are a bit bigger, standing around ten feet. Arctodus Simus would have towered over them all. To further put this in perspective, regulation height for a basketball rim is ten feet. A bear standing almost as tall as a regulation NBA basketball backboard is beyond terrifying.

Polar bears are regarded as the biggest modern bear species. Adult male polar bears might weigh around 1,200 pounds, and the heaviest on record weighed in at just over 2,200 pounds. By comparison, this prehistoric bear would have weighed in around 2,500 pounds. One specimen of the South American giant short-faced bear unearthed in 1935 may have tipped the scales at a colossal 3,500 pounds!

To make matters worse, this bear wasn’t just huge; it could also run. With longer legs in comparison to modern brown bears and a leaner, lankier build the short-faced bear may have been capable of reaching speeds as high a 40 miles-per-hour

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Starting at about 6,200 feet, the Black Elk Peak trail gains 1,100 feet in elevation over the 3.5 mile hike to the summit totaling the peak at 7,231.32 feet. The entire loop is 7.5 miles long.

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The hundreds of miles mapped out of Wind Cave National Park.

In 1888, Allen McDonald was teenager who mapped and explored the Wind Cave of nearly 8-10 miles. His gear consisted of candlelight sticks And rolling out string to mark his way throughout the cave and giving every room a name that he jotted down in his journal. He shared his adventure with paying visitors who were enthralled with his findings.

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Columbian Mammoth at The Mammoth site of Hotsprings, South Dakota

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Wind Cave is the first cave national park and currently, the 6th most extensive cave network in the world. It's most famous for its large concentration of a fairly rare cave formation known as boxwork. Boxwork is formed when dissolved calcium carbonate crystallized in cracks in surrounding rock. The surrounding rock then erodes away and leaves the boxlike calcite crystals.

Alvin McDonald would collecting boxwork formations as specimens to sell at the nearby town of Hotsprings,SD.

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Hotsprings South Dakota was a quaint town with big surprises of its history, museum, and friendliness throughout its community.

Discovering The Mammoth Site was a rewarding and educational experience that will not disappear in our memories.

This is the same town where Alvin McDonald visited to sell his specimen found in Wind Cave National Park. His journal describes his venture of restocking supplies, selling his finds, and advertising the cave tours to tourists from the cave pictures I took before.