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We located our own area on a hillside to begin our excavations. Collectively,
we had a premonition that this was a good place. Each of us staked out
a private little grub-stake and began slowly removing soil layers with
trowels and knives. The paleontologist assistant was very helpful in showing
us how to do the excavating, and every time saw something in we would call
upon him to identify it. For example, the Memphis Slicker though he hit
the mother lode; but the assistant pointed out that it was a sage brush
root. Here is a photo of the Cooky and Cowpoke getting some tips from the
assistant (photo). During the digging Reynold
was often seen looking over his shoulder for possible claim jumpers (photo).
We were also provided paint brushes to dust of any resistant masses that
might be encountered while slowly excavating. Here, the muleskinner poses
with some digging tools (photo). Gradually, our
excavations grew to the point where they sometimes intersected. This was
when a little border skirmish would erupt with a neighbor and usually involved
a knife or trowel blade accidentally near-missing the offender's fingers.
Here is a photo of us relaxing by our digs during less confrontational
times (photo).
Within a hour or so, Bill was striking some pay dirt at his claim. Numerous
little bone fragments started to appear and the protruding end of a rib
gradually emerged from the dirt. Here is a photo of Bill's hole, the knife
is to show the scale (photo). This set off a frenzy
as the other bone miners abandoned their digs and commenced exploratory
trenches around Bill's perimeter. Finally, Bill agreed to let others poke
around in his hole (photo).
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Let me explain
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