Sat, Apr 30
|Bakersfield
Tim Elam: McKittrick, Maricopa & La Brea Tar Seeps
Join geologist Tim Elam for a photographic presentation on how local tar seeps provide a glimpse of valley life thousands of years ago during the Ice Age.
Time & Location
Apr 30, 2022, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Bakersfield, 2018 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, USA
About the Event
“McKittrick, Maricopa, and La Brea Tar Seeps”
April 30, 2022
3:00 PM
Presented by geologist Tim Elam
California is known for many unusual and fascinating geologic features. Here in Kern County, tar seeps on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley provide a glimpse of valley life thousands of years ago during the Ice Age. Paleo tar seeps are extremely rare in North America, but two nearby seeps…McKittrick and Maricopa…contain fossils.
Similar to the more famous Rancho La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, tar seeps and pits at McKittrick and Maricopa entombed and preserved the hard parts of thousands of plants and animals. Seeds, spores, insects, birds, and large mammals, including saber-toothed cats, became trapped in gooey tar.
Join local geologist Tim Elam for a photographic presentation that will include discussions of:
- The geology, formation, and age of the seeps
- Bones, bones, bones…animals found in the tar
- Pleistocene extinction of large mammals
- Paleontologic excavation history
- Comparison of Kern County’s seeps to the Los Angeles La Brea tar pits
- Tar extraction by Yokuts Indians and early oil miners
The presentation will be informal, and no geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event.
There will be no extra charge to attend this event…just the normal Museum admittance fee.