Ice Age On Line
Ice Age Giants
Pleistocene Times
Ice Age in Depth
Photo of the Ross Sea, Antarctica
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce

 

 

Lectures

Excursions


LECTURES

Global Warming: Did It Cause Ice Age Extinctions?
Dr. Russ Graham, DMNS deputy chief curator and curator of paleontology
At the end of the Ice Age, about 11,000 years ago, many large mammals went extinct throughout the world. In North America more than 32 genera of mammals met their demise. Giant beavers (as large as black bears), various ground sloths, deer, and other herbivores were the ones primarily affected, although there were large carnivores that also did not survive. The cause of this extinction is highly debatable: Was it climate change or human predation that played a key role? Russ Graham will present the case for climate change.
Monday, August 6
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Phipps IMAX Theater
$7 member, $10 nonmember, $5 student

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Mysteries of the Ice Age Ground Sloths, Revealed!
Dr. Greg McDonald, paleontology program coordinator, National Park Service

They were weird and they were
wonderful—extinct sloths ranged from the size of an elephant to the size of a small dog. Though ground sloths were strictly vegetarian, the size of their claws temporarily confounded a great mind like Thomas Jefferson—he thought the claws were from a giant cat! Join Greg McDonald and discover the incredible attributes and oddities of Ice Age ground sloths.
Tuesday, August 14
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
VIP Room
$5 member, $8 nonmember

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Ice Age Carnivores
Dr. Elaine Anderson, DMNS research associate

Saber-tooths, dire wolves, giant short-faced bears, American lions, and cheetahs lived alongside coyotes, raccoons, grizzly bears, martens, and jaguars during the Pleistocene in North America. Join Elaine Anderson, a Pleistocene carnivore specialist, to learn about their appearance and their habits, and why some of them became extinct while others continue to thrive here today.
Thursday, August 30
7:00–9:00 p.m.
VIP Room
$7 member, $10 nonmember, $5 student

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Porcupine Cave Update
Dr. Elaine Anderson and Dr. Bob Raynolds, DMNS research associates
In Colorado’s Porcupine Cave, scientists and volunteers have uncovered a treasure trove of superbly preserved Pleistocene-age fossils of animals that lived in the Colorado Rockies. In a joint effort that has spanned more than a decade, the Western Interior Paleontological Society and the DMNS have collected and curated thousands of specimens from this location. Join Elaine and Bob as they share the exciting discoveries from this small cave.
Thursday, September 20
7:00–9:00 p.m.
VIP Room
$7 member, $10 nonmember, $5 student

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EXCURSIONS

USGS Ice Core Lab
What was the weather like during the Ice Age? How much snow did the woolly mammoths trudge through? Travel back in time on this visit to the National Ice Core Lab where ice cores recovered from the polar regions of the world are measured, studied, and stored. These ice cores enable scientists to study climatic changes over time—a powerful tool in paleoclimate research. Meet at the Federal Center in Lakewood, and bring cold-weather clothing (hat, coats, gloves). Tour limited to 24
participants, ages 9 and up.
Thursday, June 7
10:00–11:30 a.m.
$10 member, $14 nonmember
$8 child 9–12 years

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Paleoclimatology at NCAR
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is recognized for its scientific contributions to our understanding of climate change, ozone depletion, solar physics, severe storms, and aviation weather hazards. Among its many areas of research, NCAR currently has 4 scientists working in the area of paleoclimatology—the study of climates of the prehstoric past. Join Dr. Caspar M. Ammann on a tour of NCAR to learn how research on climate changes, from times such as the Ice Age, are helping to develop and validate models of future climate change. Please indicate whether you want to have lunch at NCAR after the tour and enjoy the view. Ages 12 and up welcome.
Monday, June 25
10:00 a.m.–Noon
$10 member,
$14 nonmember

Radiocarbon Dating Revealed
What animals and people lived during the Ice Age, and when did they die? What can current endangered species trends tell us about our own future? Radiocarbon dating used on bones, charcoal, and other fossil remains recovered by archaeologists and geologists not only reveals the past, but also future trends. Join Dr. Tom Stafford for a behind-the-scenes tour of Stafford Laboratories, a facility in Boulder that uses the radiocarbon dating process in numerous fields. Learn about the process itself and about fascinating research projects, including the dating of the oldest human remains in North America.
Limited to 15 participants ages 15 and up.
Thursday, August 2
10:00–11:30 a.m.
$15 member,
$19 nonmember

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