Mastodon Lab

		Aerial Views	Main Site

1. Initial separation (material is at least 12,000 years old).
   • On newspaper (or the Concord), separate into three piles
     • Wood, cones, and leaves
     • Rocks
     • Everything else
   • Examine wood, cones & leaves
     • Separate twigs (many crushed on one end, broken on other). This is mastodon food!!!
     • Separate cones
     • Separate leaves
2. Secondary separation. Wash rocks.
   • Separate rocks into four piles
     • Big gray rocks (larger than a quarter)
     • Small gray rocks
     • Black, shiny rocks (this is probably chert)
     • All other rocks
3. Tertiary separation
   • Wet-sort material by placing "everything else" in water
     • Floating material: seeds, hairs, insect parts (separate)
     • Sinking material: Rocks, ivory, other fossils.