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The La Brea Tar Pits: The History and Legacy of One of the World’s Most Famous Fossil Sites
*Includes pictures
*Includes a bibliography for further reading
*Includes a table of contents
Even at a distance, the acrid stench of asphalt and sulfur singes the hairs of people’s nostrils, and when the blustering winds subside, the potent miasma lingers in the air. To the untrained eye, the La Brea Tar Pits seem to be nothing more than simply pools of thick, viscous black sludge, its obsidian-like surface bestrewn with an assortment of autumn leaves and dirt. Gooey methane bubbles spurt up periodically, shattering the glassy veneer of the grease-black lakes, and the shiny bubbles swell to varying sizes and wiggle from side to side before popping, the sticky collapse almost reminiscent of cracking open a chocolate molten lava cake.
This black sludge might seem rather unremarkable after a few moments, as it appears to just sit there in its idle state, but in fact, the seemingly innocuous bubbles are symptomatic of the treacly dark substance lurking on the bottom of the pit. The pit’s contents have spelled the doom for a countless number of creatures both large and small, from legions of insects to mighty mastodons, mammoths, and snarling saber-toothed cats from the Pleistocene Era. Of course, this is what makes the area a natural landmark in the first place, and today the La Brea Tar Pits are considered by many scientists to be among the greatest finds in modern history.
Technically, these lustrous lakes of ink-black, while branded “tar,” are in actuality pools of asphalt seeps that have remained in place for several millennia, gushing forth from a natural subterranean petroleum spring underneath the city of Los Angeles known as the “Salt Lake Oil Field.” Needless to say, the tar pits are a far cry from the glittering, crystalline ponds cooled by the shade of surrounding palm trees found throughout the City of Angels. Indeed, the pungent reek of asphalt, pulsing methane bubbles, and their hauntingly black surfaces, making it impossible to gauge the true depth of the asphalt abysses, should have seemingly served as clear deterrents to the animals that roamed the vicinity prior to their entrapment. Instead, judging by the treasure trove of bones and remnants that have been uncovered within the pits, the sludge seemed to have figuratively emitted a siren song that no animal, regardless of stature or physical power, could resist.
The disturbing and fascinating implications of the silent death traps, situated in what is now 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, only further heightens their mystery. Evidence shows that the slow, torturous deaths of many of the creatures who became permanently ensnared in the asphalt quicksand were worsened by passing predators who essentially stumbled upon supper served on a sticky platter. Unfortunate, or rather, clumsy predators sometimes slipped, struggled, and were ultimately swallowed up by the tar pit themselves, creating a macabre, yet natural cycle of death and despair.
Unsurprisingly, the La Brea Tar Pits have also become a wellspring of supernatural legends. According to one such legend, the disembodied, bone-chilling shrieks of a desperate woman, supposedly the La Brea Woman, victim of Los Angeles' oldest cold murder case, can still be heard in the dead of the night. More curious yet, these liquid time capsules are swaddled in another layer of mystique, its fossils not only solving mysterious riddles of a bygone age, but also offering up even more questions that are begging to be answered.
The La Brea Tar Pits: The History and Legacy of One of the World’s Most Famous Fossil Sites looks at the geological origins of the area and analyzes the fossil finds from the tar. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the tar pits like never before.
*Includes a bibliography for further reading
*Includes a table of contents
Even at a distance, the acrid stench of asphalt and sulfur singes the hairs of people’s nostrils, and when the blustering winds subside, the potent miasma lingers in the air. To the untrained eye, the La Brea Tar Pits seem to be nothing more than simply pools of thick, viscous black sludge, its obsidian-like surface bestrewn with an assortment of autumn leaves and dirt. Gooey methane bubbles spurt up periodically, shattering the glassy veneer of the grease-black lakes, and the shiny bubbles swell to varying sizes and wiggle from side to side before popping, the sticky collapse almost reminiscent of cracking open a chocolate molten lava cake.
This black sludge might seem rather unremarkable after a few moments, as it appears to just sit there in its idle state, but in fact, the seemingly innocuous bubbles are symptomatic of the treacly dark substance lurking on the bottom of the pit. The pit’s contents have spelled the doom for a countless number of creatures both large and small, from legions of insects to mighty mastodons, mammoths, and snarling saber-toothed cats from the Pleistocene Era. Of course, this is what makes the area a natural landmark in the first place, and today the La Brea Tar Pits are considered by many scientists to be among the greatest finds in modern history.
Technically, these lustrous lakes of ink-black, while branded “tar,” are in actuality pools of asphalt seeps that have remained in place for several millennia, gushing forth from a natural subterranean petroleum spring underneath the city of Los Angeles known as the “Salt Lake Oil Field.” Needless to say, the tar pits are a far cry from the glittering, crystalline ponds cooled by the shade of surrounding palm trees found throughout the City of Angels. Indeed, the pungent reek of asphalt, pulsing methane bubbles, and their hauntingly black surfaces, making it impossible to gauge the true depth of the asphalt abysses, should have seemingly served as clear deterrents to the animals that roamed the vicinity prior to their entrapment. Instead, judging by the treasure trove of bones and remnants that have been uncovered within the pits, the sludge seemed to have figuratively emitted a siren song that no animal, regardless of stature or physical power, could resist.
The disturbing and fascinating implications of the silent death traps, situated in what is now 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, only further heightens their mystery. Evidence shows that the slow, torturous deaths of many of the creatures who became permanently ensnared in the asphalt quicksand were worsened by passing predators who essentially stumbled upon supper served on a sticky platter. Unfortunate, or rather, clumsy predators sometimes slipped, struggled, and were ultimately swallowed up by the tar pit themselves, creating a macabre, yet natural cycle of death and despair.
Unsurprisingly, the La Brea Tar Pits have also become a wellspring of supernatural legends. According to one such legend, the disembodied, bone-chilling shrieks of a desperate woman, supposedly the La Brea Woman, victim of Los Angeles' oldest cold murder case, can still be heard in the dead of the night. More curious yet, these liquid time capsules are swaddled in another layer of mystique, its fossils not only solving mysterious riddles of a bygone age, but also offering up even more questions that are begging to be answered.
The La Brea Tar Pits: The History and Legacy of One of the World’s Most Famous Fossil Sites looks at the geological origins of the area and analyzes the fossil finds from the tar. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the tar pits like never before.
2 pages, Audiobook
First published December 14, 2019
87 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 16, 2020
The La Brea Tar Pits are "in my backyard" so to speak. The Los Angeles area has always been a short (long 101) drive from me. I have heard about the Tar Pits many times through my life. Although, I can't recall learning much about them - except the mammoths and saber tooth tigers being a big selling point.
There was a lot of information packed into this short read. It didn't give an exact reason behind the mysterious pits, however, it did mention some of the theories. Most of the information was about who had the property at what time and how each respective owner paved the way for the fossil discoveries and making it into a historical icon. The book gave historical background on Los Angeles, not just the pits.
There was a lot of information packed into this short read. It didn't give an exact reason behind the mysterious pits, however, it did mention some of the theories. Most of the information was about who had the property at what time and how each respective owner paved the way for the fossil discoveries and making it into a historical icon. The book gave historical background on Los Angeles, not just the pits.
December 21, 2019
Oh, my goodness, this is one of the best books I've read all year! I've been by the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, but had no idea how much history was in its murky depths. This book is so good that I just have to follow up with more information. This story tells how the pits were just part of the historical framework of some Indian tribes (science now shows that those Indians were negatively impacted by living so close to the pits).
The pits were 'silent death traps' where animals, insects, and flora got too close and were ensnared in the sticky tar. The book calls it a 'natural cycle of death and despair.' Naturally, there are a variety of theories about these pits and the book takes the reader through the most likely ones. The feeling is that the pits formed about 35,000-40,000 years ago.
There are several photos that add so much to the information offered in the book. The pits had a complicated history until someone finally understood what they were and began to find fossils and artifacts. The story of how people excavated the pits and what they found is absolutely astounding. The picture of the Columbian mammoth found in the tar pits is wow. I believe that so far, the pit has released 750,000 animal, insect, and flora to be studied.
Learn how scientists have altered their beliefs about many things because of what they have learned from the animals emerging from the pits. I knew that camels were once indigenous to North America, but had died out centuries ago. However, in the fossil site, they brought out two distinct species of camels. Only one human was extracted from La Brea -- an Indian woman, along with a tamed dog beside her.
Lest you think that this is a charming little morsel for a science major, guess again. I can hardly spell science and I found this morsel delicious. Enjoy.
The pits were 'silent death traps' where animals, insects, and flora got too close and were ensnared in the sticky tar. The book calls it a 'natural cycle of death and despair.' Naturally, there are a variety of theories about these pits and the book takes the reader through the most likely ones. The feeling is that the pits formed about 35,000-40,000 years ago.
There are several photos that add so much to the information offered in the book. The pits had a complicated history until someone finally understood what they were and began to find fossils and artifacts. The story of how people excavated the pits and what they found is absolutely astounding. The picture of the Columbian mammoth found in the tar pits is wow. I believe that so far, the pit has released 750,000 animal, insect, and flora to be studied.
Learn how scientists have altered their beliefs about many things because of what they have learned from the animals emerging from the pits. I knew that camels were once indigenous to North America, but had died out centuries ago. However, in the fossil site, they brought out two distinct species of camels. Only one human was extracted from La Brea -- an Indian woman, along with a tamed dog beside her.
Lest you think that this is a charming little morsel for a science major, guess again. I can hardly spell science and I found this morsel delicious. Enjoy.
January 26, 2020
This is an interesting book. The tar pits in Los Angeles contain an extremely large number of bones from the animals that were trapped there. Woolly mammoths and loads of other kinds of animals have been found there. One human skeleton has been found, dating back about 9000 years and possibly a person who was murdered.
The book also has online resources and a bibliography.
The book also has online resources and a bibliography.
February 15, 2020
Loved it! Pretty much nontechnical but a clear history of the entire area, discoveries of the area, ownership disputes, commercial uses for the macadam and seconary oil, and the archaeological finds of the last couple of hundred years. I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Bill Hare is the professional narrator.
Bill Hare is the professional narrator.
October 15, 2021
Decent and Short
This was a decent and short history of the La Brea Tar Pits. I docked a star because at the end was a link that supposedly took you to other books on the subject and did not.
This was a decent and short history of the La Brea Tar Pits. I docked a star because at the end was a link that supposedly took you to other books on the subject and did not.
August 4, 2022
Short and simple.
It spins a little too much time on the place and the people, rather than to the fossils and life discovered there. However, for a place that doesn't get enough attention this is very good introduction
It spins a little too much time on the place and the people, rather than to the fossils and life discovered there. However, for a place that doesn't get enough attention this is very good introduction
January 24, 2020
Worthwhile
Good reading and storyline. Quite a few editing errors though. More photos and better editing would have made it a 5. For me as a quick history of the pits.
Good reading and storyline. Quite a few editing errors though. More photos and better editing would have made it a 5. For me as a quick history of the pits.
May 27, 2020
Very interesting subject.
I've always an interest in the La Brea Tar Pits. The author has done quite well in the research of this subject.
I've always an interest in the La Brea Tar Pits. The author has done quite well in the research of this subject.
June 1, 2020
This book reveals a lot of information in an easy to understand format. The La Brea Tar Pits has always been a place I wanted to visit so this book is the next best thing.
August 8, 2020
Delivered what it promised.
August 14, 2020
Very interesting subject
July 2, 2024
l love tar pits!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews