Clarkia fossil beds

Fossil leaves from Clarkia fossil beds

The Clarkia fossil beds (also known locally as the Fossil Bowl) is a Miocene lagerstätte located near Clarkia, Idaho.

The fossil beds were laid down in a lake roughly 15 million years ago, when a drainage basin was dammed by the flood basalts of the Columbia River Plateau. ^[1] Narrow and deep, the lake's cold, anoxic water and rapid sedimentation created perfect fossil conditions. ^[2] Furthermore, the basin itself has remained tectonically stable, with little deformation since then. ^[2] The fossils indicate that the region's climate was much warmer and wetter than today's, and similar to that of southern Florida. ^[3], ^[1]

Though a number of animal species have been found, the site is best known for its fossil leaves. Their preservation is exquisite; fresh leaves are not only unfossilized, but sometimes retain their fall colors before rapidly oxidizing in air.^[2] Indeed, scientists have managed to isolate small amounts of DNA from certain specimens.^[4] The good condition of the fossils has prompted them to be used as evidence by young Earth creationists.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Digging Up Ancient Treasures in Clarkia
2. ^ ^{a b c} The Clarkia Flora of northern Idaho
3. ^ Fossil Finds at Clarkia
4. ^ DNA sequences from Miocene fossils
5. ^ A uniformitarian paleo-environmental dilemma at Clarkia, Idaho, USA

Coordinates: 46°59′32″N 116°16′35″W / 46.9923°N 116.2764°W / 46.9923; -116.2764