FALL 2009 THOMAS FARM FOSSIL DIG
The Division of Vertebrate Paleontology is seeking volunteers to work with Florida museum staff and students at a fossil dig at the famous Thomas Farm site in Gilchrist County, Florida. We will work on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays starting on October 24 and ending on November 24, 2009. Digging hours are from 9 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon. Volunteers are expected to work a minimum of three hours a day.
We want to thank you all for a tremendous response to our request for volunteers. We currently only have one open place available on November 24. Email Richard Hulbert if you want to reserve a place on this day. If you are a new volunteer, do this before sending in an application. If you have already sent in an application or if you are a current Florida Museum volunteer just the email will be sufficient. The place will be assigned in the order in which they are requested. It is possible that some volunteers with assigned days will cancel their reservations and open new places for others. If that happens, we will post that information here.
The Thomas Farm fossil site formed about 18 million years ago, during the early part of the Miocene Epoch. At that time it was a large deep sinkhole which was connected to a series of caves. Bones of dead animals from the surrounding landscape washed into the sinkhole during storms and were buried in layers of clay and sand-size grains of limestone. The most common of the larger animals at Thomas Farm are two species of three-toed horses, Parahippus leonensis and Archaehippus blackbergi. Almost all volunteers who are persistent will find their fossils. Also common are fossils of small camels, a diminutive antlerless deer, two coyote-size members of the dog family, a small extinct species of alligator, and a small tortoise. Less common are the giant bear-dog, rhinos, peccaries, oreodonts, a larger browsing horse, boas, and many other species. Fossils of smaller animals, such as mice, squirrels, bats, frogs, salamanders, lizards, and small snakes and birds are also common, but are found by screening the sediment at the site. Although the site has been collected for many years, and the Florida Museum and other museums have many specimens in their collections, new species are still being found, as are better specimens of rarer species. That is why we continue to work at this site.WHERE
The Thomas Farm fossil site is located in a rural area in northern peninsular Florida, in Gilchrist County. The closest town is Bell, which is about 8 miles south of Thomas Farm. It is about an hours drive from Gainesville. Precise driving directions will be provided to volunteers upon acceptance of their application. Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the site.
WHAT
Volunteers will be digging along side Florida Museum of Natural History staff and UF graduate students. Normally small hand tools are used, such as dental picks 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 around the specimen, which will hold it together as we transport it back to museum laboratory. Volunteers will also spend part of their shift washing the clay from the fossil site through a screen to recover the bones and teeth of small animals.
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.
WHO CAN APPLY
Volunteers must be at least 15 years old as of October 24, 2009 (sorry, we can not accept younger volunteers for insurance reasons). Volunteers must be in good enough physical condition to walk up and down stairs and work outdoors for a three hour interval. 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.
APPLICATION FORMS
Link to form for adult volunteers (those 18 years or older as of October 24, 2009).
Link to form for junior volunteers (those 15-17 years old as of October 24, 2009). We apologize for the legal fine print on the junior form, but the University’s lawyers insist.
Filled out forms should be mailed or delivered as listed on the form. There are a limited number of places to dig each day, which are reserved in the order in which we receive the applications.
Those individuals who are currently working in the museum as volunteers do not have to fill out a form, simply send an email to Richard Hulbert that includes your name, phone number, and the date(s) of the days you will work at the fossil site. All others, including those who have worked on our past digs, must fill out an application form and send it in.
CAMPING AT THOMAS FARM
Volunteers can camp in a field located along side the fossil site. You can pitch a tent, bring a trailer (although there are no hookups), or just sleep in your vehicle. Campers can use the shower and kitchen at the site. To pay for gas, water, and electricity, campers must pay in advance for each night: $15 for an individual, $25 for a couple, and $30 for a family of three or more. Reservations for camping must be made at least three weeks in advance and fees are nonrefundable. Email Richard Hulbert for more details about camping at the site.
OTHER LODGING OPTIONS
Camping is available at some local state parks, such as Fanning Springs or O’Leno State Park.
Another option are private camp grounds in the general area, such as Ginnie Springs, Otter Springs, or on the Santa Fe River.
The nearest good motels are at the Gainesville/Newberry Road (SR 26) and Alachua (US 441) exits of I-75.