Paleontologists will be able to revisit one of North America’s troves which contains fossil from the Pleistocene era, for the first time in 30 years. The Natural Trap Cave in north central Wyoming is 85 feet deep and is positioned in such a way that it is almost impossible to see unless the observer is standing right next to it. The cave borrows its name from the tens of thousands of years of animals plunging to their deaths because of not having noticed the sink hole. The fossils therein include the now extinct mammoth, short faced bears, American lions and cheetahs. The opening of the sink hole is 15 feet wide.
natural-trap-cave-signNow the US Bureau of Land Management has decided to open a metal grate over the opening of the cave to let scientists explore the cave. Des Moines University paleontologist Julie Meachen said she is getting ready to lead the international team in to the cave by practicing climbing.
She admitted on Wednesday that she is quite frightened since she hasn’t done any real climbing and the only way out of the hole is an eight story single rope climb all the way back-up.
Breithaupt, who visited the cave when it was open for inspection the last time says that it is in fact a dangerous hole but one that holds great scientific value. He also explained that some mammal remains could be over a 100,000 years old.
One goal of exploring the hole is to learn more about the Pleistocene period and extinction, when drastic climate changes and the emergence of humans wiped out many species. Meachen suggests that the area surrounding the cave may have looked much like it does at the moment however it was probably colder and wetter.
The scientists will camp near the cave and venture into the cave more than once a day and somehow manage to get the fossils up in boxes. Meachen says she knows that it is going to be difficult but is confident that they will be well-prepared.
