Latest news with #ChrisRingstaff
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Texas DOT Uncovers Bones of 'Colossal Creatures'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said it uncovered "large, prehistoric animals" described as "colossal creatures" during a recent archaeological survey ahead of work on the Lubbock Loop 88 in a northern region of the Lone Star State. Newsweek contacted the TxDOT for comment via email on Friday. Why It Matters According to the TxDOT, the Texas Panhandle area hosts a number of playas that were created by lakes during the Ice Age that can contain evidence of prehistoric activity by humans and wild animals. Chris Ringstaff, a project planner with the TxDOT's environmental affairs division, said that if human remains are involved, they have to evaluate what action to take "under state and federal law." The bones of several large prehistoric animals were uncovered during an archaeological excavation ahead of work on the Lubbock Loop 88 in Texas. The bones of several large prehistoric animals were uncovered during an archaeological excavation ahead of work on the Lubbock Loop 88 in Texas. Texas Department of Transportation What To Know In a press release published on May 13 the TxDOT announced it had "unearthed some colossal creatures" during an archaeological dig in the Lubbock area as part of the Loop 88 freeway project. Ringstaff said the large prehistoric animals, known as megafauna, uncovered included a giant ground sloth identified by "its distinctive tooth." Other bones are still being identified by paleontologists, with Ringstaff saying it's unclear "whether all the bones are giant ground sloth or there are different animals such as mammoth or mastodon." The TxDOT said it is collaborating with the Museum of Texas Tech University to identify and house the bones. It was decided to conduct an archeological survey at the location as "Texas has other sites that show human activity with megafauna," with archeologists using a process called staged mitigation to search for "human artifacts like chipped stone or spear points." No signs of human activity have been discovered so far and if they are found it would be the first for any TxDOT project. Should that happen, it could also complicate the construction process as the TxDOT would be required to adhere to state and federal laws regarding the preservation of historic human sites. The Loop 88 project involves converting an existing 12.4-mile two-lane roadway into a six-lane freeway to reduce congestion, with the project to be completed in segments. Separately, archaeologists investigating a site on the Brazos River in Washington County, which has been dubbed the "birthplace of Texas," have uncovered more than 10,000 human artifacts. Spear points dating from between 13,500 and 15,500 years ago have also been discovered at Texas' Buttermilk Creek. The U.S. contains a number of important archeological sites, including Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi and Poverty Point, a 3,500-year-old Native American-constructed mount in Louisiana. What People Are Saying Chris Ringstaff, a project planner with the TxDOT's environmental affairs division, in a press release: "During the environmental review for Loop 88, TxDOT contracted an archeological survey. They found the bones of some large, prehistoric animals called megafauna, which is not unusual in the region. "If the site involves humans, we have to address road construction impacts under state and federal law. If the site has no artifacts and dates to a time well before humans, TxDOT will recommend no further work, and the project can proceed to construction. "We're here to get the road built. But who doesn't love digging up big ol' animals?" Rebekah Dobrasko, TxDOT cultural resources section director: "Excavation is one of many steps TxDOT can take prior to road construction to ensure that Texas history is preserved." What Happens Next The TxDOT and Museum of Texas Tech University will continue studying and seeking to identify the findings. If evidence of human activity is uncovered, the Loop 88 project could have to be altered to comply with state and federal laws.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Texas road construction unearths ‘colossal' prehistoric remains of ‘big ol' animals'
A recent excavation in Texas yielded some 'colossal creatures,' according to local officials – and archaeologists are hopeful more will be uncovered soon. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced the discovery in a recent press release. Advertisement In a statement, officials said the excavation took place in Lubbock during the environmental review for Loop 88, a proposed state highway. During the archaeological survey, diggers uncovered ancient bones dating back to prehistoric times. The remains belonged to megafauna, which are large mammals. Chris Ringstaff, a project planner with TxDOT's environmental affairs division, said that megafauna bones '[are] not unusual in the region.' Advertisement Ringstaff also noted that at least one giant ground sloth was identified, thanks to its distinctive tooth. 'Whether all the bones are giant ground sloth or there are different animals such as mammoth or mastodon, we're not sure,' he said. 3 Workers conduct a dig in the excavation site on the side of Loop 88 in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Department of Transportation 'Paleontologists will give us positive identification.' Advertisement 'We're here to get the road built, but who doesn't love digging up big ol' animals?' Ringstaff added. TxDOT noted that the Lone Star State is home to many dried-out lakes called playas, which date back to the Ice Age. 'In prehistoric times, animals and humans used playas as water sources and these sites can sometimes contain evidence of human activity,' the press release noted. 3 Officials begin to extract the remains of the megafauna in the site. Texas Department of Transportation Advertisement Archaeologists are still searching for small artifacts. They're also using dating techniques to determine the age of the remains. If any proof of human settlement is found, the project will be temporarily halted. 'Should the site reveal human activity with megafauna from the Ice Age, it would be [the] first of its kind for a TxDOT project,' the statement said. Several prehistoric bones are found in the US every year. 3 The fossil skeleton of the giant ground sloth, Megatherium. Florilegius/Universal Images Gro Last summer, archaeologists in Iowa unearthed a 13,000-year-old mastodon skull. Later in 2024, a New York homeowner found a complete mastodon jaw in his Scotchtown backyard.
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Texas road construction unearths 'colossal' prehistoric remains of 'big ol' animals'
A recent excavation in Texas yielded some "colossal creatures," according to local officials – and archaeologists are hopeful more will be uncovered soon. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced the discovery in a recent press release. In a statement, officials said the excavation took place in Lubbock during the environmental review for Loop 88, a proposed state highway. During the archaeological survey, diggers uncovered ancient bones dating back to prehistoric times. The remains belonged to megafauna, which are large mammals. Chris Ringstaff, a project planner with TxDOT's environmental affairs division, said that megafauna bones "[are] not unusual in the region." Ringstaff also noted that at least one giant ground sloth was identified, thanks to its distinctive tooth. "Whether all the bones are giant ground sloth or there are different animals such as mammoth or mastodon, we're not sure," he said. "Paleontologists will give us positive identification." "We're here to get the road built, but who doesn't love digging up big ol' animals?" Ringstaff added. TxDOT noted that the Lone Star State is home to many dried-out lakes called playas, which date back to the Ice Age. "In prehistoric times, animals and humans used playas as water sources and these sites can sometimes contain evidence of human activity," the press release noted. Archaeologists are still searching for small artifacts. They're also using dating techniques to determine the age of the remains. If any proof of human settlement is found, the project will be temporarily halted. "Should the site reveal human activity with megafauna from the Ice Age, it would be [the] first of its kind for a TxDOT project," the statement said. Several prehistoric bones are found in the U.S. every year. Last summer, archaeologists in Iowa unearthed a 13,000-year-old mastodon skull. Later in 2024, a New York homeowner found a complete mastodon jaw in his Scotchtown backyard.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
West Texas road project digs up Ice Age-era sloth tooth, here's what else they found
After a West Texas road project unearthed ancient remains of Ice Age era animals, more details have come to light on what else was found and what will happen next. On May 13, 2025, the Texas Department of Transportation announced the discovery of a tooth belonging to a Giant Ground Sloth in Lubbock. This tooth, along with a mix of other bones, was found during an archeological survey for Loop 88 between Jan. 27, 2025 – Feb. 5, 2025. 'We know we've found Giant Ground Sloth by its distinctive tooth,' said Chris Ringstaff, project planner with TxDOT's environmental affairs division, in a news release. 'We're here to get the road built. But who doesn't love digging up big ol' animals?' The remains are now being preserved and studied by the Museum of Texas Tech, 3301 4th St. The team has already learned that the excavation included more than the sloth tooth. Cool find: Giant Ground Sloth tooth found during Lubbock road project Dr. Eileen Johnson offered further insight into the find, and more details about what was found. Johnson is the museum's curator of anthropology, the director of the Lubbock Lake Landmark and the Texas Tech University chair for the Heritage and Museum Sciences Masters degree. "This is an exceedingly rare discovery for the southern plains and Llano Estacado," Johnson said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, but it's very exciting, because it is such a rare and important find." The remains are estimated to be between 18,000-36,000 years old, placing it in the Last Glacial Maximum, the later part of the Pleistocene Epoch. This epoch is more commonly known as the Ice Age. "This is a major, major find for this time period, and we're still working with all of the remains," Johnson said. "They're very, very fragile, and it's going to take months and months to work with them, to do the conservation work, to get them stable enough to even handle them before I can begin to to do the work I need to do to determine species." Behind-the-scenes: Museum of Texas Tech gives tour of Paleontology, dinosaurs, Antarctic items Even though it is early in the process, Johnson did confirm other ancient creatures were in the mix. "We have at least another species represented, and possibly two others," Johnson said. "We do have some what are called micro-vertebrates. Tiger salamanders were inhabiting these lakes at this particular time. We have big animals and very tiny animals. It's really a nifty little locality." This article continues after the gallery. These helped paint a picture of what the excavation site would have looked like at this time. Johnson said it would have been the edge of a small lake with woody vegetation. "We do know that hackberry is a native tree, it goes back about five million years in the region, so the vegetation is probably associated with that, or something of that sort," Johnson said. Samples of the materials have been sent to be tested for age, sediments and other data. It will be months, possibly at least a year before a report with the findings could be published, Johnson said. For science: Here's what to know about Natural Sciences Research Laboratory at Texas Tech "It takes time, but it's going to be well worth it," Johnson said. "We don't know the species, we don't know the animals, there's still a lot of additional discoveries. You've got the first chapter. We're just beginning that story." TxDOT and the museum are working on a transfer of ownership, so the excavated materials will eventually belong to the museum. This isn't the first discovery of an ancient animal in West Texas this year. In March, a mammoth tusk was found on a ranch in far West Texas and is in the care of Sul Ross State University. 'We live in an amazing region that has great discoveries found all the time,' Pan said. 'It's not unusual, but it is always fantastic.' Alana Edgin writes about business, and occasionally historic discoveries, for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: West Texas roadwork finds Ice Age sloth, what happens next
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Giant Ground Sloth tooth found during Lubbock road project
The remains of an Ice Age era animal have been unearthed in Lubbock during the ongoing road construction project for Loop 88. Due to Texas having locations where ancient human activity connected to megafauna, TxDOT decided to take a closer look at the Loop 88 project, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation. The excavation near Loop 88 has already dug up a giant find — the tooth of a Giant Ground Sloth. 'We know we've found Giant Ground Sloth by its distinctive tooth,' said Chris Ringstaff, project planner with TxDOT's environmental affairs division. 'We're here to get the road built. But who doesn't love digging up big ol' animals?' The remains were found during a TxDOT-contracted archeological survey, with the excavation from Jan. 27, 2025 – Feb. 5, 2025. The bones appeared to be from large, prehistoric animals that were once common in the area during the Pleistocene Epoch. This time period is known as the Ice Age, which ended 11,700 years ago. "We know we found the giant ground sloth by the distinctive tooth that was discovered," said Jason Britsch, Amarillo Public Information Officer for TxDOT. "Now, whether all the bones are giant ground sloth, or there are some different animals, like mammoth or mastodon, we're not sure yet. But paleontologists will give us positive identification, so tests are still ongoing to see what all is in there. Further information could still be discovered." TxDOT is in contact with the Museum of Texas Tech, which is assisting in the preparation, housing and identification of the bones. "Texas has a lot of rich sediments with fossils," said Dr. Aaron Pan, executive director of the Museum of Texas Tech. "It is common to find fossils during building or road constructions in Texas, especially in the metroplex." This article continues after the gallery. There are two types of Giant Ground Sloths: the Nothrotheriops shastensis, known as the Shasta Ground Sloth, and the Megalonyx, or Large Clawed Ground Sloth, according to the National Park Service. Shastas were around 9 feet long and weighed 550 pounds, whereas the Megalonyx were about 10 feet long and weighed 2,200 pounds. Pan confirmed the sloth was likely a Shasta Ground Sloth. Evidence of these sloths are found throughout the southwest. Adventure awaits: Lubbock Lake Landmark offers archaeological digs, look into where city started If evidence of human-megafauna activity is found at the site, it will be a first for a TxDOT project, according to the release. 'If the site involves humans, we have to address road construction impacts under state and federal law,' Ringstaff said. 'If the site has no artifacts and dates to a time well before humans, TxDOT will recommend no further work, and the project can proceed to construction.' If further excavation is required, it is not expected to impact the Loop 88 project's timeline, according to the release. "It's still early on in the project phase, to where it will not impact construction," Britsch said. "This portion of it is still several years down the road, so it's not impacting the construction timeline." Is it legal to own a mammoth tusk? Here's what to know about the once common Texas giant This isn't the first discovery of an ancient animal in West Texas this year. In March, a mammoth tusk was found on a ranch in far West Texas and is in the care of Sul Ross State University. 'We live in an amazing region that has great discoveries found all the time,' Pan said. 'It's not unusual, but it is always fantastic.' The Museum of Texas Tech, 3301 4th St., has many of these discoveries on display, from Ice Age Colombian Mammoths to creatures named after Texas Tech (Technosaurus). Attendees could learn more about what ancient creatures once walked, or swam, the area, along with seeing exhibits on anthropology, art, clothing and textiles, history, natural sciences and paleontology. Behind-the-scenes: Museum of Texas Tech gives behind scenes tour of Paleontology, dinosaurs, Antarctic items The Museum of Texas Tech is a massive, free-to-visit museum, and is open to all. People can keep up with the museum at Facebook and Instagram. Alana Edgin writes about business, and occasionally historic discoveries, for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Giant Ground Sloth tooth found during Lubbock Loop 88 project
