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Work Begins on Fossil Museum -- Gray Site Holds Rich Deposit of Ancient Creatures From Miocene Epoch

Posted on: Thursday, 20 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

By Associated Press

GRAY, Tenn. - Crews have begun excavation work to prepare the site of a unique Appalachian fossil deposit for a museum.

In addition to the museum at the Gray Fossil Site, East Tennessee State University plans for an education center, a preparation lab and a workshop for building displays and assembling fossils.

The Gray site is one of the nation's richest fossil discoveries of ancient rhinos, tapirs and other animals from the Miocene Epoch.

Jerry Jacene, a consultant for Red Feather Fossil Excavations who has worked with East Tennessee State on the dig, said workers had to make sure no fossils were misplaced or uncovered and broken because of construction.

"Basically, if they hit the black dirt (Red Feather workers) are allowed to search through what the backhoes dig up and make sure no fossils are uncovered or broken," he said. "The digging will stop and they'll work around us."

The most complete rhino fossil in the eastern part of the country - lacking only a tailbone - has been found in a pit near the museum site, Jacene said.

"In this pit we've found fossils like the lower jaw of a short- faced bear, a sloth, the tapir - most recently, the rare red panda tooth, one of three found in the United States," he said.

The excavation will take approximately three weeks, barring any weather delays, said Terry Webb, site foreman for excavation company HS Williams Co. Crews then will begin construction on the museum.

The Gray Fossil center began as a visitor center but grew into what ETSU is calling a multifunctional Center of Excellence in Paleontology intended to attract scholars, researchers, school children and tourists.

Source: Commercial Appeal, The

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