Mammoth event at island museum
September 11, 2009 · 3:09 PM
Venture back in time to the Ice Age at the Island County Historical Society Museum for the sixth annual Mammoth Day celebration Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Amateur archeologists of all ages can examine woolly mammoth bones, teeth and other local artifacts, dig through sand and driftwood for mammoth bones in a simulated excavation project, play prehistoric music with sticks and stones, build a take-home mammoth with pine cones and pipe cleaners, and make “fossil” jewelry.
Mammoth bones closely resemble driftwood, said museum Executive Director Rick Castellano, which can make them hard to spot. With a little patience and a keen eye, beachcombers can still spot fossils on island beaches, he said.
Woolly mammoths roamed Whidbey Island as recently as 11,000 years ago and their remains continue to be found up and down the Northwest coastline.
“They’re still finding this stuff all the time,” he said.
Visitors are encouraged to bring in interesting objects they’ve found on Whidbey beaches. Local mammoth expert Tina Jarman will be on hand again this year to answer questions and identify artifacts, Castellano said.
The Island County Historical Society is located at 908 NW Alexander St. in Coupeville. For more information, call the museum at 678-3310, or visit www.islandhistory.org.
Comment on this story.
So keep your comments:
- Civil
- Smart
- On-topic
- Free of profanity
We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.
