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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.
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La Brea Tar Pits History. 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.
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. Gaspar de Portolá’s expedition in 1769 explored the area, which encompasses about 20.
- 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.
- MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION FOSSILS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. The tar pits have yielded one of the biggest collections of Ice Age fossils in the world, and collectively, the statistics are stunning.
- PALEONTOLOGISTS STILL DIG THERE 361 DAYS A YEAR. Why 361? The site is closed July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The rest of the time, science is happening.
- THE ONLY DINOSAURS FOUND THERE ARE BIRDS. After the paleontologists at La Brea have convinced you they aren't robots, they'll be quick to clear up another misconception: They don't dig up dinosaurs.
- THE PRESERVATION OF FOSSILS IS EXCEPTIONAL. Sticky asphalt is a pain to clean off the bones, but it also keeps them in pristine condition. This means scientists can look at features as subtle as the markings on carnivore teeth.
Project 23. The History of the Tar Pits. Fossil fuels were used by human populations long before the Industrial Revolution, and that includes the asphalt found in the La Brea Tar Pits. For example, Native American tribes used asphalt from the pits to waterproof everything from canoes to baskets.
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Discover science in action and make discoveries right alongside our scientists. Step into the past and experience the Ice Age come to life! Experience La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. Explore exhibitions, programs, tours and live fossil excavations for families, locals and tourist visitors.
