08.01.16: Digging for Fossils in Fossil, Oregon

Monday, 1 August 2016
Fossil, Oregon

Weather: Clear blue skies – Hot in highs of 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit, clear. Cool late night 50-60’s lows.

It was an early morning rising with the sun as Sir Thomas, Lady Etain, and the prince awoke at the Fossil Motel and RV Park. The Horses in the pasture next to their tent were eagerly begging for fruits or vegetables from the archaeological survey crew camped around them. The crew on a survey in Fossil, Oregon were working on Bureau of Land Management projects through Logan Simpson. The Prince was ecstatic to play with the horses.

Horses in the fields at Fossil Motel and RV Park

They grilled up some eggs, bacon, and hash browns for breakfast then Dad said farewell to Lady Etain and the Prince while he set off for a 8-10 hour day surveying the fields for archaeological remains about a half hour south of them. The crew chief let Lady Etain, Sir Thomas, and the Prince use the shared hotel room he rented so the crew could take showers, use the kitchen, and tv. So Lady Etain and the Prince had a cool room with air conditioning to hang out in during the day as temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Lady Etain seemed distracted lately, often off on her phone, and disappearing from camp without letting Sir Thomas know. Sir Thomas became concerned and it sat heavy on his mind through surveys. After all, besides looking for artifacts, all he has to do is think about things during his 8-10 hour hikes.

The survey was hot and treacherous terrain as they climb straight transects up and down hills, plateaus, valleys, and gullies. Colorful geology greeted them. The heat really got to the crew so they returned to base camp early.

Sir Thomas was ecstatic to see his family and after making burgers for dinner, set off with them to hike around and explore the town of Fossil, Oregon. As they headed down the main street they passed a conspiracy-theorist house of Creationists whose fence was dotted with all types of slogans, captions, and stories. A creationist anti-scientist lives there. One caption read “Let’s move forward, past the agonized cries of scholars clinging to their unproven theories and pursue the truth which has been systematically stolen from us. I’m a scientist. Truth is irrelevant. Theories, models, assumptions, circular reasoning, innuendo, inference, agenda, lack of proof, misinterpretation of evidence, refusal to recognize contrary evidence, a great deal of faith and absurd suggestions and propositions do not constitute real science, real science is testable, observable, and repeatable. brainwashing, bullying, screaming, and threatening cannot make up for a lack of proof. Neither can citizen indoctrination thru the public school system, the news media, or the government. There is still a long standing quarter million dollar reward rready for anyone with any real proof of evolution. In addition no one has ever disproved God’s word. Wouldn’t it be wiser to believe the infallible word of God then to believe the fallibe words of men?” Sir Thomas was sickened to his stomach the idiocracy of such people like this. Especially in a town where “fossils” prove “evolution”. But then again, the Devil just buried these items to “fool” humans into not believing in God, right?

The Creationist compound

The compound was creepy with its tall hog wire fences and signs. The house had most of its windows blotted out with blankets, black paper, or curtains.

Another sign depicts two dinosaurs mocking humans for believing the lies. “Hey Fang, check THIS out. It’s unbelievable what has happened! The progeny of the humans we used to eat have taught their children that we lived millions of years ago! They’ve glorified us, made toys of us, made movies about us, and are reengineering us using DNA found in our carcasses! They are so dissociated from the truth that they think God created us like this! Only in their nightmares do they remember us because we instilled so much fear in their ancestors that it became part of their psyches. A few have started connecting the dots and realize what’s happened, but most are totally led off by the lies and desires of the few, the wicked, and the lost. Separated from the foundations of truth, most have elieved in a contrivance. Lacking understanding, they have nose-dived down the slope of the absurd! Most are unaware of the fact that we are Satans seed mixed with Gods created animals. They do not get it that we were genetically engineered and sired by the Fallen Angels written in the scripture. Because they refuse to read the many extant books that God refers to in the main canon, they waste a lot of time arguing over issues that are clearly explained. An the children, the most tender and delicious of all, adore us. How wild is that!” Fang replies “Greetings Claw. THAT IS pretty wild what you say. HMMMM … WAIT A MINUTE …. ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT IF I WANDERED INTO SOME TOWN OR CITY THAT ALL THE FOOD WOULD COMING RUNNING OUT TO GREET ME? WOW!!!”

Ridiculousness Sir Thomas thought of the blank-minded sheep that Fundamentalist idiots get to believe such nonsense. He laughed and they continued on along the fence perusing the humor dotting it. Then came the “Stop the Chem Bombs Chem Trails and TMCs”. Finally passing the conspiracy theorists they found other intriguing houses with art and oddities in their yards. They saw the town’s first church, first post office, and other early buildings from the days of the Wild West. The first Lower Pine creek School house and Interpretive Center had some interesting artifacts and history behind it. They had a typical Sheepherder’s Wagon in the front of the school that was built in the 1930’s and last used in 1984 containing all the original equipment used by the sheepherder. “This wagon was home to the sheepherder and his dogs twelve months of the year. Moved as the sheep followed the grass the herder followed the sheep and the wagon followed the herd.” It was donated by the Steiwer Family. The Prince had a great time exploring it. Sir Thomas and Lady Etain thought it was pretty cool.

Another sign about Fossil stated “In 1876, Thomas Hoover chose the name “Fossil” for the first post office because he had found mammoth bones on his ranch. James Chambers arrived in 1869, the first white to settle this area. The local Indians had told Chambers of the waist-high grass on the rolling hills, the scores of creeks and the rivers they fed. The grass was of particular interest to Chambers for he needed good grazing for his race horses. The following year Chamber’s inlaws, the Thomas Hoovers arrived, as well as William Bingham, Lafayette, and Woodson Scoggins. In 1880 Hoover and an associate built a store, which has served as the Masonic Lodge, and now houses the Fossil Museum. In 1899 Wheeler Counter was formed and Fossil became the county seat. The county courthouse, built with locally made brick, was completed in 1902.”

Lower Pine Creek School House

They wandered by the Public Art house with images painted on the outside of the buildings. One was of Johan (Jack) P. Steiwer (Jan 17, 1926 – Oct 4, 1999) He was born at Portland, Oregon January 17, 1926, the son of William II Steiwer Sr and Dorothy A Kerus Stewiwer a prominant family in Wheeler County and statewide. He attended grade school at Fossil and high school at Shannigan Lake on Vancouver Island. He attended Stanford University and graduated with a pre-law degree from the University of Oregon at Eugene. Mr Steiwer served in the military during World War II and later returned to Fossil and became associated with his father and brother in the Steiwer family operations. His civic service to his community ad state was beyond reproach. He served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives in the late 1940’s. He served as Mayor of Fossil, as secretary of the Wheeler County Fair Board and was o the founding board of the Fossil Ambulance Service. He served as secretary of the Oregon Wool Growers association, was a member of the Pacifi International Livestock Exposition, was a member and chaired the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, was a member of the Wildlife Heritage Foundation and the Oredgon Humanities Commission and was a long time member of the Oregon Historical Society Board of Directors. He also served on the Maryhill Museum Society Board of Directors and was a member of the University Club at Portland and the Greater Condon Arts Association and was a long-time trustee of the Eastern Oregon Pioneer Association. Through his Weekend County Store at Fossil and in his unceasing efforst to attract economic and political attention to Wheeler County, he was one of the first to offer guided rafting trips down the beautiful John Day River, which he loved and valued as a unique resource. His contribuitons to local facilities, such as Asher clinic and the Fossil Museum were countless. In honor of his mother in 1987 he purchased and refurbished the Liberty Theater at Condon and hosted lived performances and movies for several years. He chaired Fossil’s Centennial Celebration activities, co-authoring and producing the chataquia stage show associated with that event, and more recently was honored as grand marshal of the Wheeler County Centennial celebration at Fossil. He honored and reveled in the history of his family and the area, and was a contributor to the publication of Wheeler County historical times and events “Glimpses of Wheeler County’s Past”. He had become the official annouce of the Wheeler County Fair parade each year and his generosity counted as he hosted refreshments for parade watchers each year in front of his place of business. He loved entertaining guests at his unique home and was an accomplished chef. Mr Steiwer held his family, his community, and friends, his state and county in high esteem.”

They dropped by the Fossil Museum but it was closed, lacking staff and hours. It was pretty basic so they didn’t miss much. They explored downtown and worked their way to the high school in the back of which one could dig for fossils for free.

“Here in the City of Fossil lies an abundance of fossil plant deposits, ranging in age from one million to 32 million years ago. These fossils are part of the “Bridge Creek Flora” the general scientific term given to fossilized plant deposits found in the John Day River basin of north central Oregon – an area that encompasses presentday Fossil to Mitchell to the John Day Valley. Many of these remnants of fossilized flora are distant relatives of similar species found today in regions of eastern Europe and Asia. Preserved under cataclysmic events, these delicate fossilized leaves, ferns, fruits, stems, and seeds reflect Earth’s passages and give scientists clues about ancient ecosystems.”

Digging Fossils at the Fossil Beds

Alder

“Alnus newberry – one of the most common plant fossils found here, small alder trees were found at the edges of ancient lake basins”.

Hawthorn

“Crataegus merriamiii – Small deciduous trees distantly related to present day hawthor trees found in eastern Europe and Asia.”

Metasequoia

“An ancient species, a small group of closely related evergreen metasequoias were recently discovered in an isolated range of present day China.”

Ash

“Fraxinus species – Ancient ash trees were much smaller than today’s species. Scientists say they grew abundantly along prehistoric lakesides.”

Fern

“Polypodium – Rare single specimens have been found here. distant relatives to today’s woodland ferns.”

Walnut

“Juglandiphyllites cryptatus – Walnut trees were once prolific in this region although the discovery of well preserved leaves and fruits is still a rare occurence.”

Extinct Fruit

“Fossilized fruit and fruit capsules are rare among the Bridge Creek Flora and this unknown tree or shrub species is long extinct.”

Sumac

“Rhus lequereuxii – somewhat similar to present day sumac found across North America, ancient specimens included both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs”.

Pine Needles

“Pinus johndayensis – Only one type of ancient pine has been discovered in the Fossil locale; hece the species has been named for the John Day River basin.”

Unknown Monocot Species

“Simple monocotledon leaf composites of a yet-unknown ancient plant species.”

Oak

“Quercus consimilis – the leaes of prehistoric oaks – both deciduous and evergreen species – were not lobbed. Fossilized acorns have not yet been discovered here.”

Unknown Dicot Species

“An unknown species with complex leaves perhaps related to ancient sumacs.”

Basswood

“Tilia fossilensis – a concentration of fossilized ancient basswood trees also referred to as linden was found only in a single strata at these fossil beds.”

They walked by the very small warehouse building that was City Hall and the Fire Deparment embedded together as one.

As they went behind the high school there was a information board with instructions about digging for fossils and a place to pay for impact on the site, use of tools, etc. The Fossil Beds are owned by the Fossil School District – all fees and donations help pay for unfunded and under funded programs such as Sports, Music, Arts, and After School Reading. They ask for a $5 donated entrance fee based on the honor system.

Sir Thomas led Lady Etain and the Prince to the fossil beds and they grabbed a few loaner tools to dig with. They dug through the strata looking for fossils – they didn’t find much treasure, just basic patterns and imprints, none spectacular or defining. .The Prince however had an amazing time and didn’t want to stop digging. As the sun set, Dad hurried them along as it was time to go before it got dark.

They walked back through the town, along main street, back to their base camp at the Fossil campground and motel. They grilled up some burgers and called it a night. Big day tomorrow in archaeology adventure-land.

Mileage: 80 miles (Ashland – Fossil)

Accounting: Etsy Listing fees – 20.14.

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A view of this day in 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010.

Horses in the fields at Fossil Motel and RV Park (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=27381
) Fossil, Oregon (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=27373). Volcanic Legacy: Chronicle 25 – Chronicles of Sir Thomas Leaf, Lady Etain, and Prince Cian. Adventures in Washington, Oregon, Idaho & Wyoming. Photos taken August 1, 2016. To read the adventures, visit http://www.technogypsie.com/chronicles/?p=21521. To read reviews, visit: www.technogypsie.com/reviews. All photos and articles (c) 2015/2016 Technogypsie.com – by Leaf McGowan, Technogypsie Productios, Thomas Baurley. All rights reserved. www.technogypsie.com/photography