Several newly discovered bone beds within Badlands National Park have been the focus of paleontological and geological investigation by the National Park Service and cooperating scientists. The most prominent of these sites is the Conata Picnic Ground Bone Bed or Big Pig Dig. The Pig Dig is an Orellan assemblage dominated by Subhyracodon, Archaeothrium, Mesohippus, and Leptomeryx remains that range from completely articulated to isolated specimens with no preferred orientation. Based on detailed sedimentology, stratigraphy, and geochemical analysis, I have interpreted the Pig Dig as an attritional watering hole environment without significant pedogenic modification (Terry, 1996). The majority of the bones occur within a drab green layer that is bounded above and below by red sediments, although some cross-cut the red and green layers at a high angle. The drab green color is interpreted as a reduction halo generated by the decay of organic matter within the watering hole. Zones of low bone accumulation have either no green color, or a localized halo around individual bones. Bone processing is evident. Feel free to comment.
Archaeotherium jaw
Subhyracodon vertebrae
Bone processing 1
Bone processing 2
Quarry picture
Fence diagram of quarry