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The La Brea Tar Pits is an active paleontological research site in urban Los Angeles. Hancock Park was formed around a group of tar pits where natural asphalt (also called asphaltum, bitumen, or pitch; brea in Spanish) has seeped up from the ground for tens of thousands of years.
Step into an Ice Age adventure. Unearth mysteries deep beneath your feet, witness fossil discoveries, and explore exhibits of mammoth proportions. Dive into a unique journey through time, as you investigate the science and history preserved by the Tar Pits.
Apr 28, 2024 · La Brea Tar Pits, tar (Spanish brea) pits, in Hancock Park (Rancho La Brea), Los Angeles, California, U.S. The area was the site of “pitch springs” oozing crude oil that was used by local Indians for waterproofing.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Right in the heart of L.A. sits the world’s most powerful gateway to the Ice Age. The asphalt seeps at La Brea Tar Pits are the only active urban fossil dig site in the world. Plants and animals from the last 50,000 years are discovered here every day. Outside, you can watch excavators carve fossils out of the asphalt.
Located in the heart of L.A., La Brea Tar Pits are one of the world’s most famous fossil localities, where more than 100 excavations have been made! It’s a fascinating piece of land. Over time, this area has been ancient forest and savannah, ranch land and oilfield, Mexican land grant, and Los Angeles County Park.
The Tar Pits have been excavated, downward, for more than 100 years, but this excavation — Project 23 — is happening above ground, revealing discoveries that visitors can experience every day. Renowned as one of the world’s richest deposits of Ice Age fossils, the prehistoric jackpot at La Brea Tar Pits includes — so far — 600 species ...
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Guided Tours | La Brea Tar Pits. Experience the Tar Pits. Guided Tours. Let our docents and educators bring the stories of the Tar Pits to life. General Info. Free with museum admission. Free for Members. Excavator Tour. The Excavator Tour takes a deeper look into the Fossil Lab, Lake Pit, Hancock Park, and Project 23.
