DOCSLIB.ORG

Pop up Paleontology Make Your Own Trace Fossil Activity What You Need

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Pop Up Paleontology Make Your Own Trace Fossil Activity What you need Model Magic, Play-Doh, or clay Materials to leave traces in the Model Magic, like models or toys of ancient organisms Provided coprolite example sheet Preparation Follow the instructions to model a trace fossil. Step 1. Gather the materials, either from the science kit Step 2. Create an impression of the toy in the Model Magic, or you got at the library or from around your home. shape the Model Magic to model a coprolite based upon the coprolite example sheet provided (last page). What to do Use the materials to create a model of a trace fossil, also called an “ichnofossil.” Leave the Model Magic (or clay) to dry for 24 hours; it will harden like a rock. Trace fossils indicate the behavior of ancient organisms. Examples of trace fossils include burrows, trackways, feeding marks, nests, and coprolites - which are fossilized feces! Examples of body fossils What is happening? (image from studylib.net) Fossils are evidence of organisms that lived during a past geological age – a really long time ago! Fossils are the mineralized remains of long-dead organisms. What was once a living animal body has been turned into mineral, but the shape remains. What ends up getting fossilized is a tiny fraction of the past life on Earth, from microbes to dinosaurs and lots more! Fossils fall into one of two categories: body fossils and trace fossils. Body fossils are parts of organisms that come directly from the body. Bones, claws, and teeth are all examples of body Examples of trace fossils (image from studylib.net) fossils. Trace fossils indicate the activity of an organism, like a footprint or even fossilized feces (called coprolites). An organism made the trackway, feeding mark, or feces, but it is not a part of its body. Trace fossils can tell us what animals ate, whether they moved in herds, whether they made burrows, and many other facts. As for plants, trace fossils can tell us whether insects or fungi attacked them (e.g., borings into wood). Trace fossils are important because they give paleontologists a bigger picture about how ancient organisms lived. Trace Fossils in Kansas There are a variety of different trace fossils preserved in the rock layers of Kansas. In eastern Kansas, there are several well-known trace fossil sites that preserve invertebrate movement and feeding traces, as well as sites that preserve footprints from ancient vertebrates such as amphibian-like and mammal-like reptiles. Many of these sites in eastern Kansas date to the Carboniferous geologic period and represent a block of time from approximately 320 million years ago to 299 million years ago. In western Kansas, there are more vertebrate trace fossils, like shark feeding marks preserved on fossilized mosasaur bones as well as shark and other fish coprolites (fossilized scat). The rock layers in western Kansas are much younger, dating to the Cretaceous geologic period where they represent a block of time from about 145 million years ago to 66 million years ago. The images below highlight some examples of these ichnofossils. [Image from Minter et al., 2016] [Image from Mangano et al., 1998] Insect resting trace fossil from Tonganoxie Sandstone Resting trace fossil attributed to a burrowing bivalve. of eastern Kansas; dates to the Carboniferous Period. This Carboniferous inchnofossil is from a shale deposit near the town of Waverly in eastern Kansas. [Image from S. Godfrey, Calvert Marine Museum] [Image from Milan et al., 2016] Footprints from an ancient vertebrate (in this case, an Footprints from an ancient vertebrate (in early mammal-like reptile). This trackway site is located this case, a large amphibian-like reptile). near the town of Garnett in eastern Kansas. It dates This trackway site is preserved in the to the Carboniferous Period. Howard Limestone of eastern Kansas and dates to the Carboniferous Period. [Image from Rothschild et al., 2004] [Image from Sternberg Museum of Natural History] Shark tooth impressions (feeding marks) on the fossilized tail vertebrae of a mosasaur. Coprolite (fossilized feces) from a shark that This specimen was found in the late 1890s in the Smoky Hill Member of the Niobrara lived in the Western Interior Seaway of Kansas Chalk in western Kansas. It dates to the Cretaceous Period. during the Cretaceous Period. This coprolite was found in the Smoky Hill Member of the Niobrara Chalk of western Kansas. If you’d like to use your Model Magic or clay to shape your own coprolite, just choose from one of the example coprolite shapes below! .
Recommended publications
  • In Pliocene Deposits, Antarctic Continental Margin (ANDRILL 1B Drill Core) Molly F

    In Pliocene Deposits, Antarctic Continental Margin (ANDRILL 1B Drill Core) Molly F

    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln ANDRILL Research and Publications Antarctic Drilling Program 2009 Significance of the Trace Fossil Zoophycos in Pliocene Deposits, Antarctic Continental Margin (ANDRILL 1B Drill Core) Molly F. Miller Vanderbilt University, [email protected] Ellen A. Cowan Appalachian State University, [email protected] Simon H. H. Nielsen Florida State University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/andrillrespub Part of the Oceanography Commons, and the Paleobiology Commons Miller, Molly F.; Cowan, Ellen A.; and Nielsen, Simon H. H., "Significance of the Trace Fossil Zoophycos in Pliocene Deposits, Antarctic Continental Margin (ANDRILL 1B Drill Core)" (2009). ANDRILL Research and Publications. 61. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/andrillrespub/61 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Antarctic Drilling Program at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in ANDRILL Research and Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Antarctic Science 21(6) (2009), & Antarctic Science Ltd (2009), pp. 609–618; doi: 10.1017/ s0954102009002041 Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press Submitted July 25, 2008, accepted February 9, 2009 Significance of the trace fossil Zoophycos in Pliocene deposits, Antarctic continental margin (ANDRILL 1B drill core) Molly F. Miller,1 Ellen A. Cowan,2 and Simon H.H. Nielsen3 1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA 2. Department of Geology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA 3. Antarctic Research Facility, Florida State University, Tallahassee FL 32306-4100, USA Corresponding author — Molly F.
  • The Rock and Fossil Record the Rock and Fossil Record the Rock And

    The Rock and Fossil Record the Rock and Fossil Record the Rock And

    TheThe RockRock andand FossilFossil RecordRecord Earth’s Story and Those Who First Listened . 426 Apply . 427 Internet Connect . 428 When on Earth? . 429 Activity . 430 MathBreak . 434 Internet Connect 432, 435 Looking at Fossils . 436 QuickLab . 438 Internet Connect . 440 Time Marches On . 441 QuickLab . 443 Internet Connect . 445 Chapter Lab . 446 Chapter Review . 449 TEKS/TAKS Practice Tests . 451, 452 Feature Article . 453 Time Stands Still Pre-Reading Questions Sealed in darkness for 49 million years, this beetle still shimmers with the same metallic hues that once helped it hide among ancient plants. This rare fossil 1. How do scientists study was found in Messel, Germany. In the same rock formation, the Earth’s history? scientists have found fossilized crocodiles, bats, birds, and 2. How can you tell the age frogs. A living stag beetle (above) has a similar form and of rocks and fossils? color. Do you think that these two beetles would live in 3. What natural or human similar environments? What do you think Messel, Germany, events have caused mass was like 49 million years ago? In this chapter, you will extinctions in Earth’s learn how scientists answer these kinds of questions. history? 424 Chapter 16 Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. MAKING FOSSILS Procedure 1. You and three or four of your classmates will be given several pieces of modeling clay and a paper sack containing a few small objects. 2. Press each object firmly into a piece of clay. Try to leave an imprint showing as much detail as possible.
  • Coprolites of Deinosuchus and Other Crocodylians from the Upper Cretaceous of Western Georgia, Usa

    Coprolites of Deinosuchus and Other Crocodylians from the Upper Cretaceous of Western Georgia, Usa

    Milàn, J., Lucas, S.G., Lockley, M.G. and Spielmann, J.A., eds., 2010, Crocodyle tracks and traces. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin 51. 209 COPROLITES OF DEINOSUCHUS AND OTHER CROCODYLIANS FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF WESTERN GEORGIA, USA SAMANTHA D. HARRELL AND DAVID R. SCHWIMMER Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA 31907 USA, [email protected] Abstract—Associated with abundant bones, teeth and osteoderms of the giant eusuchian Deinosuchus rugosus are larger concretionary masses of consistent form and composition. It is proposed that these are crocodylian coprolites, and further, based on their size and abundance, that these are coprolites of Deinosuchus. The associated coprolite assemblage also contains additional types that may come from smaller crocodylians, most likely species of the riverine/estuarine genus Borealosuchus, which is represented by bones, osteoderms and teeth in fossil collections from the same site. INTRODUCTION The Upper Cretaceous Blufftown Formation in western Georgia contains a diverse perimarine and marine vertebrate fauna, including many sharks and bony fish (Case and Schwimmer, 1988), mosasaurs, plesio- saurs, turtles (Schwimmer, 1986), dinosaurs (Schwimmer et al., 1993), and of particular interest here, abundant remains of the giant eusuchian crocodylian Deinosuchus rugosus (Schwimmer and Williams, 1996; Schwimmer, 2002). Together with bite traces attributable to Deinosuchus (see Schwimmer, this volume), there are more than 60 coprolites recov- ered from the same formation, including ~30 specimens that appear to be of crocodylian origin. It is proposed here that the larger coprolites are from Deinosuchus, principally because that is the most common large tetrapod in the vertebrate bone assemblage from the same locality, and it is assumed that feces scale to the producer (Chin, 2002).
  • Mary Anning of Lyme Regis: 19Th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology

    Mary Anning of Lyme Regis: 19Th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology

    Headwaters Volume 26 Article 14 2009 Mary Anning of Lyme Regis: 19th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology Larry E. Davis College of St. Benedict / St. John's University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/headwaters Part of the Geology Commons, and the Paleontology Commons Recommended Citation Davis, Larry E. (2009) "Mary Anning of Lyme Regis: 19th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology," Headwaters: Vol. 26, 96-126. Available at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/headwaters/vol26/iss1/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Headwaters by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LARRY E. DAVIS Mary Anning of Lyme Regis 19th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology Ludwig Leichhardt, a 19th century German explorer noted in a letter, “… we had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the Princess of Palaeontology, Miss Anning. She is a strong, energetic spinster of about 28 years of age, tanned and masculine in expression …” (Aurousseau, 1968). Gideon Mantell, a 19th century British palaeontologist, made a less flattering remark when he wrote in his journal, “… sallied out in quest of Mary An- ning, the geological lioness … we found her in a little dirt shop with hundreds of specimens piled around her in the greatest disorder. She, the presiding Deity, a prim, pedantic vinegar looking female; shred, and rather satirical in her conversation” (Curwin, 1940). Who was Mary Anning, this Princess of Palaeontology and Geological Lioness (Fig.
  • CURRICULUM VITAE Ilya V. Buynevich Ilya V

    CURRICULUM VITAE Ilya V. Buynevich Ilya V

    CURRICULUM VITAE Ilya V. Buynevich Ilya V. Buynevich Department of Earth and Environmental Science Tel: 215-204-3635 College of Science and Technology Fax: 215-204-3496 Temple University [email protected] 313 Beury Hall http://sites.temple.edu/coastal 1901 N. 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA Citizenship: USA EDUCATION 2001-2003 Post-Doctoral, Geology Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 2001 Ph.D, Geology Boston University 1994 B.A., Geology, Magna Cum Laude Boston University 1989-1991 Dipl. Sci. Program, Marine Geology Odessa National University, Ukraine RESEARCH INTERESTS Coastal and marine geology; field and experimental ichnology; zoogeomorphology; event sedimentology and taphonomy; morphodynamics and stratigraphy of coastal barriers; aeolian processes and dunefield evolution; geoarchaeology and geoforensics; applied high-resolution geophysics (focus: georadar). POSITIONS HELD 2015 > Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Science, Temple University 2009-2015 Assistant Professor, Earth and Environmental Science, Temple University 2008-2012 Adjunct Graduate Professor of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island 2004-2009 Assistant Scientist, Geology & Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 2000-2009 Part-time Faculty, Metropolitan College, Boston University 2007-2009 Visiting Faculty, Earth and Environmental Science, Boston College 2007-2008 Adjunct Faculty, Marine Geology, Kiev National University, Ukraine 2003-2004 Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Field Center 2001-2003 USGS Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) 1999, 2009 Visiting Faculty, Geology, Tufts University 1997-2000 Research Assistant, Department of Earth Sciences, Boston University PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY 2014 > - Editorial Board, Geology Bulletin, Lviv National University, Ukraine Geology and Geography Bulletin, Odessa National University, Ukraine 2013 > - Editorial Board, Baltica 2011 > - Associate Editor, Journal of Coastal Research I.V.
  • Teacher's Booklet

    Teacher's Booklet

    Ideas and Evidence at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Teacher’s Booklet Acknowledgements Shawn Peart Secondary Consultant Annette Shelford Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Paul Dainty Great Cornard Upper School Sarah Taylor St. James Middle School David Heap Westley Middle School Thanks also to Dudley Simons for photography and processing of the images of objects and exhibits at the Sedgwick Museum, and to Adrienne Mayor for kindly allowing us to use her mammoth and monster images (see picture credits). Picture Credits Page 8 “Bag of bones” activity adapted from an old resource, source unknown. Page 8 Iguanodon images used in the interpretation of the skeleton picture resource from www.dinohunters.com Page 9 Mammoth skeleton images from ‘The First Fossil Hunters’ by Adrienne Mayor, Princeton University Press ISBN: 0-691-05863 with kind permission of the author Page 9 Both paintings of Mary Anning from the collections of the Natural History Museum © Natural History Museum, London 1 Page 12 Palaeontologists Picture from the photographic archive of the Sedgwick Museum © Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Page 14 Images of Iguanodon from www.dinohunters.com Page 15 “Duria Antiquior - a more ancient Dorsetshire” by Henry de la Beche from the collection of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales © National Museum of Wales Page 17 Images of Deinotherium giganteum skull cast © Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Page 19 Image of red sandstone slab © Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences 2 Introduction Ideas and evidence was introduced as an aspect of school science after the review of the National Curriculum in 2000. Until the advent of the National Strategy for Science it was an area that was often not planned for explicitly.
  • Making a Trace Fossil

    Making a Trace Fossil

    WSC National Fossil Day 2020@ HOME Making a Trace Fossil Gathering Supplies: Soft Modeling Clay or Homemade Salt Dough Rolling Pen Toothpick Leaves, Sticks, Bark and/or Shells Paint Brushes (Optional) Types of Fossils! There are two main types of fossils that paleontologists study: body fossils and trace fossils. So what is the difference between the two? Body fossils are probably what you think of most when you hear the word fossil. Like the large bones of a dinosaur. Body fossils are fossils that retain or keep the actual remains of an animal, even though it goes through the fossilization process. Think about fossils of a tooth, a claw, or skull of an ancient animal. These are all parts of the actual animal that have become a fossil. So if the original remains of a plant, insect or animal become fossilized, this would be a body fossil. Trace fossils show the activity of a plant or animal, without any of the actual remains being present. Examples of trace fossils are tracks of animals, or signs of their scratching and burrowing. Even fossilized poop is a type of trace fossil. The imprint of a leaf or bark from a tree or the texture of a shell are all examples of trace fossils. Remember a trace fossil will show the presence of an living organism without an actual part of their remains being fossilized. They can give clues to what animals did and how they acted along with what their environment was like. Try This! Making your own trace fossil. Go out on a nature walk with your family, in your neighborhood or in your backyard.
  • Trace Fossils and Substrates of the Terminal Proterozoic–Cambrian Transition: Implications for the Record of Early Bilaterians and Sediment Mixing

    Trace Fossils and Substrates of the Terminal Proterozoic–Cambrian Transition: Implications for the Record of Early Bilaterians and Sediment Mixing

    Trace fossils and substrates of the terminal Proterozoic–Cambrian transition: Implications for the record of early bilaterians and sediment mixing Mary L. Droser*†,So¨ ren Jensen*, and James G. Gehling‡ *Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521; and ‡South Australian Museum, Division of Natural Sciences, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia Edited by James W. Valentine, University of California, Berkeley, CA, and approved August 16, 2002 (received for review May 29, 2002) The trace fossil record is important in determining the timing of the appearance of bilaterian animals. A conservative estimate puts this time at Ϸ555 million years ago. The preservational potential of traces made close to the sediment–water interface is crucial to detecting early benthic activity. Our studies on earliest Cambrian sediments suggest that shallow tiers were preserved to a greater extent than typical for most of the Phanerozoic, which can be attributed both directly and indirectly to the low levels of sediment mixing. The low levels of sediment mixing meant that thin event beds were preserved. The shallow depth of sediment mixing also meant that muddy sediments were firm close to the sediment–water interface, increasing the likelihood of recording shallow-tier trace fossils in muddy sed- iments. Overall, trace fossils can provide a sound record of the onset of bilaterian benthic activity. he appearance and subsequent diversification of bilaterian Tanimals is a topic of current controversy (refs. 1–7; Fig. 1). Three principal sources of evidence exist: body fossils, trace fossils (trails, tracks, and burrows of animal activity recorded in the sedimentary record), and divergence times calculated by means of a molecular ‘‘clock.’’ The body fossil record indicates a geologically rapid diversification of bilaterian animals not much earlier than the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary, the so-called Cambrian explosion.
  • Innovations in Animal-Substrate Interactions Through Geologic Time

    Innovations in Animal-Substrate Interactions Through Geologic Time

    The other biodiversity record: Innovations in animal-substrate interactions through geologic time Luis A. Buatois, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2, Canada, luis. [email protected]; and M. Gabriela Mángano, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2, Canada, [email protected] ABSTRACT 1979; Bambach, 1977; Sepkoski, 1978, 1979, and Droser, 2004; Mángano and Buatois, Tracking biodiversity changes based on 1984, 1997). However, this has been marked 2014; Buatois et al., 2016a), rather than on body fossils through geologic time became by controversies regarding the nature of the whole Phanerozoic. In this study we diversity trajectories and their potential one of the main objectives of paleontology tackle this issue based on a systematic and biases (e.g., Sepkoski et al., 1981; Alroy, in the 1980s. Trace fossils represent an alter- global compilation of trace-fossil data 2010; Crampton et al., 2003; Holland, 2010; native record to evaluate secular changes in in the stratigraphic record. We show that Bush and Bambach, 2015). In these studies, diversity. A quantitative ichnologic analysis, quantitative ichnologic analysis indicates diversity has been invariably assessed based based on a comprehensive and global data that the three main marine evolutionary on body fossils. set, has been undertaken in order to evaluate radiations inferred from body fossils, namely Trace fossils represent an alternative temporal trends in diversity of bioturbation the Cambrian Explosion, Great Ordovician record to assess secular changes in bio- and bioerosion structures. The results of this Biodiversification Event, and Mesozoic diversity. Trace-fossil data were given less study indicate that the three main marine Marine Revolution, are also expressed in the attention and were considered briefly in evolutionary radiations (Cambrian Explo- trace-fossil record.
  • Fossil Lagerstätte from Ya Ha Tinda, Alberta, Canada

    Fossil Lagerstätte from Ya Ha Tinda, Alberta, Canada

    A new Early Jurassic (ca. 183 Ma) fossil Lagerstätte from Ya Ha Tinda, Alberta, Canada Rowan C. Martindale1,2*, Theodore R. Them II3,4, Benjamin C. Gill3, Selva M. Marroquín1,3, and Andrew H. Knoll2 1Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C1100, Austin, Texas 78712, USA 2Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA 3Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 4044 Derring Hall (0420), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA 4Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science & National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA ABSTRACT Figure 1. Global paleoge- Lagerstätten—deposits of exceptionally preserved fossils—offer ography during Toarcian vital insights into evolutionary history. To date, only three Konservat- and location of Ya Ha Tinda Hispanic (Alberta, Canada; yellow Lagerstätten are known from Early Jurassic marine rocks (Osteno, Corridor Tethys star), Strawberry Bank (UK; Posidonia Shale, and Strawberry Bank), all located in Europe. We gray star), and Posidonia report a new assemblage of exceptionally preserved fossils from Panthalassa Shale (Germany; black star) Alberta, Canada, the first marine Konservat-Lagerstätte described Lagerstätten. Green areas are Pangea landmasses, light-blue areas from the Jurassic of North America. The Ya Ha Tinda assemblage are shallow seas, and dark includes articulated vertebrates (fish,
  • Mary Anning: Princess of Palaeontology and Geological Lioness

    Mary Anning: Princess of Palaeontology and Geological Lioness

    The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon Volume 84 Issue 1 Article 8 1-6-2012 Mary Anning: Princess of Palaeontology and Geological Lioness Larry E. Davis College of St. Benedict / St. John's University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/compass Part of the Paleontology Commons Recommended Citation Davis, Larry E. (2012) "Mary Anning: Princess of Palaeontology and Geological Lioness," The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon: Vol. 84: Iss. 1, Article 8. Available at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/compass/vol84/iss1/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Figure. 1. Portrait of Mary Anning, in oils, probably painted by William Gray in February, 1842, for exhibition at the Royal Academy, but rejected. The portrait includes the fossil cliffs of Lyme Bay in the background. Mary is pointing at an ammonite, with her companion Tray dutifully curled beside the ammonite protecting the find. The portrait eventually became the property of Joseph, Mary‟s brother, and in 1935, was presented to the Geology Department, British Museum, by Mary‟s great-great niece Annette Anning (1876-1938). The portrait is now in the Earth Sciences Library, British Museum of Natural History. A similar portrait in pastels by B.J.M. Donne, hangs in the entry hall of the Geological Society of London.
  • Exceptionally Preserved Asphaltic Coprolites Expand the Spatiotemporal Range of a North American Paleoecological Proxy Alexis M

    Exceptionally Preserved Asphaltic Coprolites Expand the Spatiotemporal Range of a North American Paleoecological Proxy Alexis M

    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Exceptionally preserved asphaltic coprolites expand the spatiotemporal range of a North American paleoecological proxy Alexis M. Mychajliw1,2,3*, Karin A. Rice1, Laura R. Tewksbury1, John R. Southon4 & Emily L. Lindsey1 As fossilized feces, coprolites represent direct evidence of animal behavior captured in the fossil record. They encapsulate past ecological interactions between a consumer and its prey and, when they contain plant material, can also guide paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Here we describe the frst coprolites from the lagerstätte Rancho La Brea (RLB) in Los Angeles, California, which also represent the frst confrmed coprolites from an asphaltic (“tar pit”) context globally. Combining multiple lines of evidence, including radiocarbon dating, body size reconstructions, stable isotope analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and sediment analyses, we document hundreds of rodent coprolites found in association with plant material, and tentatively assign them to the woodrat genus Neotoma. Neotoma nests (i.e., middens) and their associated coprolites inform paleoclimatic reconstructions for the arid southwestern US but are not typically preserved in coastal areas due to environmental and physiological characteristics. The serendipitous activity of an asphalt seep preserved coprolites and their original cellulosic material for 50,000 years at RLB, yielding a snapshot of coastal California during Marine Isotope Stage 3. This discovery augments the proxies available at an already critical fossil locality and highlights the potential for more comprehensive paleoenvironmental analyses at other asphaltic localities globally. Coprolites are some of the most important ichnofossils that can be recovered from a diversity of taphonomic, ecological, and geologic contexts1. As trace fossils, coprolites represent windows into the evolution of ecological interactions such as predation, herbivory, and parasitism, and can contain paleoecological proxies spanning thou- sands to millions of years in the past2–4.