The Division of Vertebrate Paleontology of the Florida Museum of Natural History will conduct a major fossil excavation in January, February, March and April 2008 in north-central Florida. The site we will work was discovered in 2005 in a limestone quarry northeast of the town of Newberry in western Alachua County. About 150 volunteers worked at this site, called Haile 7G, in the fall of 2005, about 100 volunteers worked in the spring of 2006, almost 200 in the fall of 2006, about 110 in the spring of 2007, and 105 in the fall of 2007. Altogether these volunteers have collected many thousands of fossils at Haile 7G and made significant discoveries. It is anticipated that 2008 will be our last year working this fabulous fossil site.

WHEN

The Winter 2008 season will start on January 12 (weather permitting), and continue through April 6. Field work will normally begin at 9 AM and end at 4:30 PM, although we might start later on days with cold overnight temperatures.

Because private vehicles are not allowed in the quarry, volunteers will be instructed to park in a designated location, and we will transport you to the fossil site and then back to your car.

You can begin work at any of these times: 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM (noon), or 1:30 PM. Shifts will end at 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM, and 4:30 PM and you can start and leave at whichever times best fit your schedule. You can volunteer for as many days as you wish.

The fossil site is located about 2 miles northeast of Newberry, a short distance off Newberry Road. It is approximately a 30 to 45 minute drive from Gainesville, depending on traffic. Detailed directions to the parking location will be provided to all volunteers after we receive their application form.

Volunteers will be digging along side Florida Museum of Natural History staff and UF graduate students. Normally small hand tools are used, such as screwdrivers and trowels, to carefully dig through the clay and to expose the fossil bones. If intact and sturdy, the bones will be removed and placed into plastic bags. If fragile, you will dig around the specimen and then make a plaster jacket (see pictures below) around the specimen, which will hold it together as we transport it back to museum laboratory. No previous experience is necessary; we will train you on your first day if you have not worked on one of our past fossil digs.

The first fossil skull of Tapirus found in North America was recovered near Vero Beach, Florida in 1917. In the almost 90 years since then, many hundreds, if not thousands, of fossils of Tapirus have been found in Florida, including several more skulls and many upper and lower jaws. The fossil record shows that Tapirus lived in Florida almost continuously for about 9 million years, until it became extinct here and the rest of the United States about 11,000 years ago. More fossils of Tapirus have been found in Florida than any other region of the world.

By the end of 2006, the number of individuals of Tapirus collected at Haile 7G was about 46; of those 14 were found during the Fall 2005 Tapir Challenge, 11 during the Spring 2006 Tapir Challenge, and 10 during the Fall 2006 Tapir Challenge. In the spring and fall of 2007, we collected 30 more tapirs, for a grand total of 76. We now have a few more individuals than have been found at Tennessee’s Gray Site. However, work at the Tennessee site will continue for many years, while this is our last. So we need to build up as big a lead as possible.

Minimum age for regular volunteers is 18 (this age limit was set by the mine management, and we can not make any exceptions). Volunteers need to be of at least moderate physical fitness and be able to work outdoors for extended periods, often when temperatures are high. For insurance purposes, volunteers must sign a liability waiver and become official museum volunteers. All fossil specimens collected during the excavations become the property of the Florida Museum of Natural History.

If you have not worked with us on a previous Tapir Challenge dig, we will begin accepting applications from new volunteers on January 7, 2008. Go to this web page for an application form (pdf file). Print and fill out the form, and then send it in following the instructions.

This fossil dig is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation, by a SGER grant to J. Bloch and R. Hulbert. The NSF funds pay for the salaries of the student assistants, rental of the excavator, and major field supplies. However, donations from volunteers and others are needed for additional supplies to collect the fossils and to curate them at the museum. The budget we receive from the state is insufficient to pay for this. Donations in any amount can be included with your application, or mailed separately to Richard Hulbert, Dickinson Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611-7800. Make checks out to "University of Florida Foundation". Donations are tax deductable.