Ice Age Fossil Site Featured in National Geographic, NOVA, Upcoming Book

Work on The Snowmastodon Project™ continues at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

DENVER-January 17, 2012-The historic Ice Age fossil discovery near Snowmass Village remains in the limelight.  A National Geographic magazine article, a one-hour NOVA program on Rocky Mountain PBS, and a book about the Snowmastodon Project™ are all scheduled for release early this year.  The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is offering related programs online and onsite.

National Geographic Magazine, February Issue

A short article will appear in the February 2012 issue of National Geographic magazine, available on newsstands Tuesday, January 31.

NOVA on Rocky Mountain PBS, Wednesday, February 1

"Ice Age Death Trap," a one‐hour NOVA‐National Geographic program, will premiere on Rocky Mountain PBS at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1. The television special follows scientists as they race against time to uncover this unique site packed with astonishingly well‐preserved bones of mammoths, mastodons, and other giant extinct beasts, opening a vivid window into the vanished world of the Ice Age.

Programs at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Thursday, January 26, and Friday, January 27

The Museum is presenting a related event, "NOVA Sneak Peek: Ice Age Death Trap," at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27. Guests will be the first to view excerpts from the NOVA program, hear behind‐the‐scenes stories from the dig site, and get the latest scientific updates. Hosted by scientists Kirk Johnson and Ian Miller. Visit www.dmns.org for reservations and more information.

Digging Snowmastodon Book, On Sale at the Museum on Tuesday, March 20

The Museum and Aspen‐based People's Press are publishing a first‐person account of the fossil find. Digging Snowmastodon: Discovering an Ice Age World in the Colorado Rockies describes the events surrounding the amazing discovery, the excitement and emotion of the dig itself, and the colorful cast of characters who each played important roles as the story unfolded.

Infused with humor and offering the unique perspectives of Kirk Johnson and Ian Miller, Museum scientists and co-leaders of the dig, this compelling narrative clearly illustrates the science of the fossil find. The book will be available for purchase at the Museum beginning Tuesday, March 20 for $19.95 and distributed both locally and nationally. To learn more about Digging Snowmastodon and purchase advance copies, visit www.diggingsnowmastodon.com.

Ongoing Snowmastodon Project™ Museum Experiences, Online and Onsite

Museum visitors can see fossils from the site being prepared by staff and volunteers in the Schlessman Family Preparation Laboratory, near the exit of Prehistoric Journey. Also in the area, the Mammoth Discoveries cart features photos, video, and interpretive information; a volunteer facilitator to answer visitor questions; and real tusk fragments from Snowmass Village to touch. Online at www.dmns.org/science/the‐snowmastodon‐project features photos, videos, a discovery timeline, activities for families, and more. 

Media Contact:

Charlotte Hurley: charlotte.hurley@dmns.org, 303.370.6407

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About The Snowmastodon Project™

In October 2010, a bulldozer operator working near a Colorado ski area uncovered the tusk of a young female mammoth. Over the next 10 months, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science conducted its largest‐ever fossil excavation, yielding a treasure trove of well‐preserved Ice Age fossils. Museum crews uncovered 5,000 bones of 41 kinds of Ice Age animals, including mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, camels, deer, horses, and giant bison. The preserved series of Ice Age fossil ecosystems is one of the most significant fossil discoveries ever made in Colorado. This discovery at Ziegler Reservoir near Snowmass Village will change forever our understanding of alpine life in the Ice Age. To learn more, visit www.dmns.org/science/the‐snowmastodon‐project.

About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region's leading resource for informal science education. A variety of engaging exhibits, discussions, and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. To learn more about the Museum, check www.dmns.org, or call 303‐370‐6000. Many of the Museum's educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by generous funding from the citizens of the seven‐county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.