“Paleontology of the Pinto Basin on Joshua Tree National Park”
Imagine the Pinto Basin as a swampland! During part of the Pleistocene era, the Mojave was a much cooler and a less arid environment. Portions of what are now vast expanses of desert were likely shorelines of lakes, streams and marshes, with plentiful vegetation and animal life. The Campbells, of Twentynine Palms, documented vertebrate fossil finds in the Pinto Basin in 1935. To celebrate National Fossil Day on October 16, Cindy Stoddard will discuss fossil discoveries in the Pinto Basin of the Joshua Tree National Park.
Avid hiker and long-distance race-walker, 30-year Morongo Basin resident, Cindy Stoddard has participated in archaeological excavations and surveys with UNLV, UCR, Cal State Bakersfield, and Joshua Tree National Monument for many years. Cindy worked in her favorite area, the Pinto Basin for several years with a group from UCR, and helped survey the boundaries of the National Monument when status was changed to that of National Park. Cindy also worked as an Archaeological Technician with Joshua Tree National Park. Cindy received her BA from Cal State San Bernardino, along with her Certificate in Museum Science in 2000. Recently completing a certificate in Paleontology from Anza Borrego State Park and completing a workshop in Desert Tortoise Handling from the Desert Tortoise Council, Cindy is now volunteering with Joshua Tree National Park and works part-time with SWCA as an archaeological technician.
Sponsored by the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park, this lecture will be held at the Black Rock Visitor Center, 9800 Black Rock Canyon, Yucca Valley, CA 92284 on Friday, October 18, 7 pm – 8 pm. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information,