This Midwest birthday venue was a sinkhole death trap for Ice Age mammoths

The Mammoth Site in South Dakota

In South Dakota, there’s a spot where you have your birthday near the remains of 60+ prehistoric mammoths. It’s called the Mammoth Site near Hot Springs, and it’s pretty metal.

Ice Age Elephants

The last known group of woolly mammoths was still alive until about 1650 B.C. That’s more than a thousand years AFTER the Pyramids at Giza were built.

They were about 13 feet tall (similar to African elephants today) and covered in two layers of fur. The outer layer was up to 20 inches long since they had to survive temperatures as low as -58°F.

It’s Still an Active Dig Site

Unlike most museums where everything is behind glass, The Mammoth Site is an actual working paleontology dig. They’re nowhere near done. So far, they’ve only dug through about 20 feet of what’s actually a 65-foot-deep ancient pond.

It’s a ‘Karst-Style’ Sinkhole

The Mammoth Site is a ‘karst’ sinkhole. The roof of a limestone cavern collapsed and created a ‘skylight.’ At the bottom was a spring that turned the hole into a 120 by 150 feet steep-sided pond and at least 65 feet deep. It was basically a trap.

Mammoths Couldn’t Escape the Sinkhole

Poor mammoths would wander into this pond for a drink or a swim, but it was so steep they’d get stuck.

Over hundreds of years, mud and sediment filled in the pond, preserving their bones. As thousands more years passed, the mud hardened while the surrounding softer rock eroded away, turning what was once a pit into a hill.

Over 60 Ice Age Mammoths Have Been Found

So far, scientists have unearthed more than 60 mammoths at this site. Most (58) are Columbian mammoths, while 3 are woolly mammoths.

These Fossils Are 140,000+ Years Old

Scientists first thought these mammoth remains were about 26,000 years old. But in 2018, researchers Dr. Sharon Holte and Justin Wylkins used newer dating techniques and discovered the bones are actually around 140,000 years old.

All the Mammoths Are Male

In a weird twist, every single mammoth found at the site is male, and most are young adults. Female mammoths lead the herds, and young males often get kicked out to wander alone.

These bachelor mammoths would take more risks than those traveling in herds, like checking out a nice-looking swimming hole.

Other Ice Age Animals Have Been Found Too

The mammoths weren’t the only ones having a bad day at this sinkhole. They’ve found fossils of a rare giant short-faced bear, American camels, llamas, wolves, coyotes, and shrub oxen. There are also tons of smaller mammals, birds, fish, and even tiny invertebrates.

You Celebrate Your Birthday with Mammoths

How many people can say they celebrated their birthday surrounded by Ice Age fossils? It’s so popular, the Mammoth Site has actual birthday packages.

There’s the Sinbad’s surprise with a guided tour and scavenger hunt. The Mammoth Bash adds a fossil impression class or tooth molding class to the Sinbad option.

You can also DIY it by renting out their classroom and bringing your own birthday stuff.

Visiting The Mammoth Site

Address: 1800 US 18 Bypass, P.O. Box 692, Hot Springs, SD 57747 

The Mammoth Site runs entirely on admission fees, donations, and gift shop sales. No government funding, so your ticket goes a long way. Here’s what it costs to visit as of this writing:

• Ages 60 & Over: $13.00
• Children 3 & Under: Free
• Ages 4-12: $12.00
• Active & Retired Military: $13.00
• Ages 13-59: $15.00