Latest news with #IllinoisStateMuseum
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Skull of one-ton ground sloth found in Kansas
ELLIS COUNTY (KSNT) – The unearthing of a partial skull of a 10-foot-tall ground sloth has prompted a review of the history of the species in Kansas. The paper, published by the Kansas Academy of Science on May 26, claims a mostly intact braincase of Megalonyx jeffersonii, also known as Jefferson's ground sloth, was discovered near Hays in Ellis County. The discovery helps flesh out the distribution of the species during the late Pleistocene. The skull is estimated to be between 12,000-21,000 years old due to its discovery in a significant geological formation in Kansas. State wrestling tournament will stay in Topeka Megalonyx jeffersonii was named after Thomas Jefferson, who recovered bones of the animal from a cave in West Virginia in the late 18th Century. Jefferson originally thought the fossils belonged to a giant cat based on the large claws he found, according to the Illinois State Museum. The Illinois State Museum lists Megalonyx jeffersonii as being between 8-10 feet tall and weighing between 2,200-2,425 pounds. The animal was large and heavily built with large, blunt teeth. The animal's hip bones indicate it could stand on its hind legs which it probably used to strip leaves from trees with its large claws. Megalonyx jeffersonii has a long geological history in Kansas, with records from the late Miocene to the late Pleistocene, according to the paper. The location of Megalonyx jeffersonii in Kansas was associated with river drainages, indicating a reliance on forests within the grassland habitat of the Great Plains. Planned road closures for Emporia Unbound Gravel races As of this new publishing, the Megalonyx jeffersonii has been found in the following Kansas counties: Ellis County – 2025. Jewell County – 1995. Sedgewick County – 1985. Wyandotte County – 1979. Republic County – 1975. Wallace County – 1968. Johnson County – 1967. Meade County – 1938. McPherson County – 1892. Greenwood County – Unpublished date. Rawlins County – Unpublished date. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
10-foot-tall sloths with ‘large' teeth roamed modern-day Kansas. Now bones found
At the end of the Pleistocene Epoch, 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, a ground sloth that stood 8 to 10 feet tall went extinct. Now, bones belonging to one have been found in Kansas. A partial skull of the extinct sloth, known as Megalonyx jeffersonii, was found in Ellis County on the Great Plains, according to a study published May 26 in the peer-reviewed journal Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. The partial skull was made up mostly of braincase, and it provided a 'better understanding of the distribution of this species in Kansas,' the study said. The ground sloth was 'a large, heavily built animal' with 'a large skull with blunt snout, massive jaw, well-developed chewing muscles, and large, blunt, peg-like teeth,' according to the Illinois State Museum. Unlike modern-day sloths that typically stay in trees, this sloth spent most of its time on the ground, walking on its flat feet and at times standing on its hind legs, the Illinois State Museum reported. They had 'very large claws on their forelimbs' and were 'covered with thick hair,' the museum said. The age of the partial skull was not able to be determined, but because of its presence in the Peoria Loess sediment deposit, it's believed to be from the late Wisconsian between 21,000 and 12,000 years before present. The research team included H. Gregory McDonald, Laura E. Wilson and Melissa Macias Ellis County is about a 170-mile drive northwest from Wichita.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Illinois State Museum looking for judges, volunteers for 2025 state History Day contest
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — History enthusiasts across the state are being asked to give back to the community for a day this spring. The Illinois State Museum is looking for judges and volunteers for the student Illinois History Day. IL Manufacturers' Association hosting 6th Annual 'Makers Madness' contest This is a hands-on learning program for students from grades six to 12 where students will partake in research, analysis and discovery. Students will pick a topic of their choice that aligns with the theme of the year and showcase their historical findings. Jenn Edginton, the director of the Illinois State Museum, said this program gets the younger generation excited about history. 'National History Day in Illinois is such an important program for middle and high school learners to gain skills and confidence in the history and humanity fields,' Edginton said. 'This program aims to inspire the next generation of future historians.' Judges at the Illinois History Day Competition don't need to have a history degree, however they must be willing to give constructive and useful feedback to the students. All judges will receive training before the competition and then will be tasked to evaluate students' projects and decide which one will advance to the next round of the competition. Volunteers will assist in welcoming people, guiding contestants and cleaning up after the competition. Illinois History Day started in 1947 with the first History Day fair taking place in 1963. Last year, more than 600 students participated in the competition showing their research through exhibits, documentaries, websites, papers and live performances. Students will compete at regional competitions in Illinois, and the top selected projects move on to the statewide Illinois History Day contest in Springfield. The winners of the state competition will represent Illinois at the National History Day competition in Washington, D.C. in June. IDoA calls for Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame nominations This year's competition theme is rights and responsibilities in history. Students will research and talk about the rights and responsibilities in their project. The competition is on May 1 at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. Everyone is encouraged to be a judge or volunteer. More information can be found on the Illinois State Museum's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
