2026 Ashfall Fossil Beds Public Fossil Dig
Join an active fossil dig with UNSM paleontologists and paleontology student interns from Ashfall Fossil Beds.
The 2026 public fossil excavation will take place in rural Antelope County, Nebraska, near Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park. Previous excavations at this site have uncovered camel and horse fossils, as well as a large species of barrel-bodied rhino, Teleoceras fossiger. The site is scheduled for expansion to accommodate this year’s excavation, planned for late July. Your fees from this program support science outreach programs at Ashfall Fossil Beds.
Registration Details:
Register early to assure your date(s) of choice. Maximum of 12 participants per day. Minimum age 16; participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult (19+) and must conform to the University of Nebraska’s Policy on Youth Activities. All participants must carry their own insurance, and must sign a liability waiver and a photo release form (details included in registration form).
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Activity Description:
Participants will work with UNSM staff to excavate Miocene fossils from a site in northeast Nebraska, on private property with special permission from the land owner. Activities will likely include uncovering in-situ fossils, creating field jackets for transporting fossils to the laboratory, screening sediment for microfossils, and mapping the fossil site. Fossils collected from the site will be transported to Ashfall Fossil Beds, where Students Interns will conduct more detailed preparation and analysis, and curate the fossils into the UNSM research collections. In the event of inclement weather, alternative activities will be conducted at Ashfall Fossil Beds.
Food, Lodging, and Facilities:
Participants are responsible for their own food and lodging. Sack lunches are suggested, or (for a hot meal in air conditioning) participants may travel to nearby restaurants in local communities (e.g., Royal, Orchard, Creighton, O’Neill, Niobrara). Hotel lodging is available at O’Neill (~1/2 hour west) or Norfolk (~1 hour southeast), cabins and campsites are available at Niobrara State Park (~1/2 hour north), and primitive campsites are available on a first-come basis at Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area 6 miles away. Restroom facilities are not available at the excavation site, but are available at Ashfall Fossil Beds a few miles away.
Transportation and Accessibility:
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the site. Participants will meet UNSM staff at Ashfall Fossil Beds to depart at 9:00 AM each day and travel to the site as a group convoy (in their own respective vehicles). Activities will conclude by 4:00 PM each day. Roads to the excavation site are not vehicle-limiting, and parking is available along the road nearest the site. From the parking area, the excavation site is a short (3/4 mile) walk over uneven terrain. Limited shade is available at the site, but shade and air-conditioning are available nearby at Ashfall Fossil Beds in the event of severely warm weather.
Safety and Required Gear:
UNSM/Ashfall will provide excavation tools and supplies. Late July afternoon temperatures can be uncomfortably hot, so participants should bring sufficient drinking water (3+ liters per day recommended) and sunscreen. Pants and long-sleeved shirts are recommended for sun/insect protection; dressing in layers is a good idea. Boots or closed-toe shoes are required, since cactus and other thorns are a possibility.
Refund Policy:
Refund requests must be made in writing at least one week in advance.