The Untold Story of America’s Richest Fossil Deposit that was Looted to Oblivion

This isn’t a tale of ancient ruins or buried gold, but of a monument to prehistoric life: Fossil Cycad National Monument in South Dakota. 

What happened to this geological treasure and the priceless fossils it contained? The answer lies in a story of mismanagement and looting.

Ranchers Discover Buried Treasure

In the late 1800s, ranchers in the Black Hills of South Dakota unearthed a treasure trove of fossilized cycads, ancient seed plants that thrived during the dinosaur era. 

These fossils captured the attention of scientists nationwide, who recognized their significance for understanding prehistoric life. Initial efforts to preserve these unique specimens led to the establishment of Fossil Cycad National Monument in 1922 (ref).

Who was Responsible

Paleontologist George Wieland was tasked with studying the cycads; he was granted permission to collect specimens for research. 

In 1892, Professor Thomas MacBride of the State University of Iowa discovered the first fossilized cycad trunks in the Southern Hills, which sparked further scientific interest in the area (ref).

Wieland, who was working with O.C. Marsh at Yale University, traveled to South Dakota and met Lester Ward, which led to his long-term interest in the Minnekahta cycads. He discovered that the cycadeoid trunks preserved flowers and cones containing fruit, which had never been seen in the fossil record before (ref).

Then, Weiland tried to convince federal lawmakers to designate the area as a national monument. On October 21, 1922, President Warren G. Harding officially proclaimed Fossil Cycad National Monument through Proclamation 1641, citing the scientific interest and value of the fossil deposits.

Why Was the Monument Ultimately Decommissioned?

The Fossil Cycad National Monument was ultimately decommissioned in 1957 due to a combination of factors.  The most important factor being funding.

Initially, the fossils were removed for research purposes, but later, amateur fossil enthusiasts and collectors also began to pilfer the fossils. The lack of proper management and surveillance allowed this theft to occur unchecked. 

As a result, the exposed petrified plant remains eventually disappeared, the purpose of the monument was lost, and eventually, the National Park Service saw no choice but to close its doors, leaving behind a history of losing a rare scientific treasure (ref). 

The Legacy of Fossil Cycad National Monument

In 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) designated the 320 acres encompassing the former national monument as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), protecting it from mineral leasing, fossil collecting, development, and other potentially harmful activities.

Today, no trace remains of the national monument’s location. The excavated cycad fossils now reside in collections at Yale, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (ref), other museums, and likely in some private collections as well.

Though the monument itself is gone, its legacy lives on in the lessons learned and the ongoing efforts to preserve and study the remaining cycad fossils. The story of its demise serves as a cautionary tale for the future preservation of our natural treasures.

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