Construction workers in Southern California have made a wild discovery.
Construction
workers
in
Southern
California
have
made
a
wild
discovery
.
They were digging at a building site in San Timoteo Canyon when they unearthed hundreds of ancient animal fossils.
They
were
digging
at
a
building
site
in
San
Timoteo
Canyon
when
they
unearthed
hundreds
of
ancient
animal
fossils
.
Researchers say the bones hold important clues about the history of the region.
Researchers
say
the
bones
hold
important
clues
about
the
history
of
the
region
.
Nearly 1, 500 fossils were recovered from the dusty canyon.
Nearly
1
,
500
fossils
were
recovered
from
the
dusty
canyon
.
The remains are about 1.4 million years old.
The
remains
are
about
1.4
million
years
old
.
They include the bones of a new species of deer, several small rodents and more.
They
include
the
bones
of
a
new
species
of
deer
,
several
small
rodents
and
more
.
A giant cat fossil was also found.
A
giant
cat
fossil
was
also
found
.
Scientists believe the animal was an ancestor of the saber- toothed tiger.
Scientists
believe
the
animal
was
an
ancestor
of
the
saber-
toothed
tiger
.
Signs of plant life were uncovered as well.
Signs
of
plant
life
were
uncovered
as
well
.
"This is a huge find," says Rick Greenwood, a scientist studying the site.
``
This
is
a
huge
find
,
''
says
Rick
Greenwood
,
a
scientist
studying
the
site
.
"I don't think most people had any idea that those types of animals were wandering around here more than a million years ago."
``
I
do
n't
think
most
people
had
any
idea
that
those
types
of
animals
were
wandering
around
here
more
than
a
million
years
ago
.
''
San Timoteo Canyon is located about 85 miles from Los Angeles.
San
Timoteo
Canyon
is
located
about
85
miles
from
Los
Angeles
.
The area of the canyon where the fossils were found was once part of a green river valley.
The
area
of
the
canyon
where
the
fossils
were
found
was
once
part
of
a
green
river
valley
.
Today, the region is dry and plant life is rare.
Today
,
the
region
is
dry
and
plant
life
is
rare
.
Most of the fossils are well preserved.
Most
of
the
fossils
are
well
preserved
.
Experts say a muddy lake bed may have trapped thirty animals that wandered over for a drink.
Experts
say
a
muddy
lake
bed
may
have
trapped
thirty
animals
that
wandered
over
for
a
drink
.
The mud helped to protect the animal fossils.
The
mud
helped
to
protect
the
animal
fossils
.
The remains are a million years older than those discovered at the famous La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.
The
remains
are
a
million
years
older
than
those
discovered
at
the
famous
La
Brea
Tar
Pits
in
Los
Angeles
.
Scientists studying the bones will be able to learn more about how the animals adapted to changes in the environment.
Scientists
studying
the
bones
will
be
able
to
learn
more
about
how
the
animals
adapted
to
changes
in
the
environment
.
"We have a confused view of what this time period was like," says another scientist.
``
We
have
a
confused
view
of
what
this
time
period
was
like
,
''
says
another
scientist
.
"A discovery like this could really be an important contribution."
``
A
discovery
like
this
could
really
be
an
important
contribution
.
''
About 35 different animal species are represented in the fossil collection.
About
35
different
animal
species
are
represented
in
the
fossil
collection
.
Scientists began removing bones from the site last fall.
Scientists
began
removing
bones
from
the
site
last
fall
.
The project was completed this summer.
The
project
was
completed
this
summer
.
Starting next year, the fossils will be on display at the Western Science Center in the nearby city of Hemet, California.
Starting
next
year
,
the
fossils
will
be
on
display
at
the
Western
Science
Center
in
the
nearby
city
of
Hemet
,
California
.
Construction workers in Southern California have made a wild discovery. They were digging at a building site in San Timoteo Canyon when they unearthed hundreds of ancient animal fossils. Researchers say the bones hold important clues about the history of the region.  Nearly 1, 500 fossils were recovered from the dusty canyon. The remains are about 1.4 million years old. They include the bones of a new species of deer, several small rodents and more. A giant cat fossil was also found. Scientists believe the animal was an ancestor of the saber- toothed tiger. Signs of plant life were uncovered as well.  "This is a huge find," says Rick Greenwood, a scientist studying the site. "I don't think most people had any idea that those types of animals were wandering around here more than a million years ago."  San Timoteo Canyon is located about 85 miles from Los Angeles. The area of the canyon where the fossils were found was once part of a green river valley. Today, the region is dry and plant life is rare.  Most of the fossils are well preserved. Experts say a muddy lake bed may have trapped thirty animals that wandered over for a drink. The mud helped to protect the animal fossils.  The remains are a million years older than those discovered at the famous La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Scientists studying the bones will be able to learn more about how the animals adapted to changes in the environment.  "We have a confused view of what this time period was like," says another scientist. "A discovery like this could really be an important contribution."  About 35 different animal species are represented in the fossil collection. Scientists began removing bones from the site last fall. The project was completed this summer. Starting next year, the fossils will be on display at the Western Science Center in the nearby city of Hemet, California.