Inland Empire Community Newspapers • March 21, 2013 • Page A5 Calico remains destination of modern paleontologists; opened door to new era

PHOTO COURTESY /BSB C OUNTY MUSEUM PHOTO

Dr. Adella "Dee" Schroth (Left) and Dr. Mary Karhu at the San Bernardino County Museum identifying artifacts found at Calico Archaeological Site.

then, he thought the America's everyone." Schroth said there naturally formed geofacts; how to were less significant as far as the have been those from throughout dig and record findings; help origins of man. Leakey success - the world come to the Calico site. manage and preserve a unique ar - fully gained additional funding "We find something every time chaeological site; and hear lec - PHOTO COURTESY /BLM PHOTO for "The Calico Early Man Dig" we go out there," said Schroth, tures about geology, astronomy from the University of Pennsylva - who serves also as the San and early man. There is no charge Former San Bernardino County Museum Curator Dr. Ruth nia, the Wilke Foundation, UCLA Bernardino County Museum Cu - to participate with the Friends of Simpson just prior to her death in 2000. Was driving force behind as well as National Geographic. rator of Anthropology. Calico group, however annual Calico Man Dig The Bureau of Land Management The Meetup.com/Friends of memberships are available for said that Leakey once had 25 to the Calico Early Man Site, says $20 families; $15 per; or $10 stu - 30 paid staffers onsite at Calico. that volunteers will be taught to dents. Members can participate in shown to him by the late San Leakey's health and credibility identify man-made artifacts from board of directors decisions. By Harvey M. Kahn Bernardino archaeologist Dr. waned but he insisted that stone Ruth D. Simpson. artifacts found at Calico were di - t's not your imagination if Though the Bureau of Land rectly related to those he found in you thought that portions of Management says that researchers Africa. Critics say Leakey's find - San Bernardino County look first found primitive stone tools at ings in Calico are insignificant abIout 200,000 years old. Some of Calico in 1942, the old western because there have been no corre - Funerals are often too costly. mining town did not officially be - the world's top paleontologists sponding human or animal bones A Solution is here. have found evidence suggesting come a prehistoric dig until 1964, unearthed at the site. that homo erectus once inhabited when Leakey secured a grant Before her death, Simpson Quality Care at Affordable Prices from the National Geographic So - the shores of the now dry Lake called the Calico Mountain ar - Cremation or Burials Manix in Calico. Enough prehis - ciety. Leakey's notoriety was en - chaeological site a mother lode of toric artifacts were unearthed hanced by some of his landmark tool quality material which drew Let us know how we can help. there in 1954, that renowned sci - discoveries of early man at the people to inhabit the valley. entist Dr. Louis Leakey declared Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, Simpson told University of Maine INLAND MEMORIAL FD1758 Calico a site of extreme interest. Africa. officials that ancient tools found Leakey took Simpson's lead In the heart of Colton Leakey was motivated to San at Calico showed the extent of 900 Meridian Ave, Colton Ca. 92324 and became the project manager man's early craftsmanship. "Cal - Bernardino after seeing evidence Located inside Hermosa Garden Cemetery of excavations at Calico. Until ico makes apparent the need to re- evaluate the archaeological and Call Brenda 909-254-4100 geological data from previously known sites." Simpson predicted that Calico will eventually be known as a site that will open doors, "Into a whole new chapter of American archaeology, estab - lishing that man was here and was an accomplished tool maker in the Middle Pleistocene." $39.95 mo. By the time Leakey died in 1972 and Simpson in 2000, most Dental Insurance all the funding was used up. Now, er Month (California) there is the nonprofit, "The $39.95 P dividual American Workers Friends of the Calico Early Man In r Site" which works in partnership Month fo Insurance Service $89.95 Per with the San Bernardino County e Family offers low dental Museum to keep Calico alive. the Entir The site is under the jurisdiction insurance rates of the Bureau of Land Manage - for the community. ment. On the first Saturday and Example of Co-Pay For more information Sunday of each month from Oc - Detailed Oral Exam = NO COST CALL 909-322-5859 tober to May, about 10-50 volun - teers make the trek to Calico in X-rays = NO COST ask for James search of artifacts. "It's the oldest Office Visit = $5.00 ID#58024 OR visit active dig in the U.S.," said cur - rent Friends of Calico Dig project Teeth Cleaning = $5.00 http://lowercost.awis- manager Adella Schroth. "It is the Fillings = $8.00 dental.com/ PHOTO COURTESY BLM PHOTO only archaeological site in Cali - We look forward to fornia where the public is allowed Tooth Extractions = $10.00 hearing from you. Dr. Louis Leakey led Calico Man Dig for nine years. to participate. We welcome 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee