Denver Museum of Nature Science to Conduct Second Fossil Dig at Ziegler Reservoir
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is scheduled to undertake a second excavation at Snowmass Village’s Ziegler Reservoir next summer. This new dig follows a significant discovery over a decade ago, in 2010, when a construction crew expanding the reservoir uncovered a mammoth tusk. The initial excavation yielded more than 35,000 animal bones, including those of mastodons, giant ground sloths, and Ice Age bison, along with plant and insect remains, representing 85,000 years of history. Researchers hope to uncover more fossils and gain a deeper understanding of Colorado's Ice Age paleoenvironment. The new research will focus on how plants, animals, and climate changed during that period in the Rocky Mountains, utilizing new technologies not available during the first dig. The excavation is expected to occur from May to September 2027, coinciding with the reservoir's expansion for water storage.
