THE SAND PAPER
Publication of Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association

Summer 2008

Prehistoric Animals Resurface

After some 3 million years, the elephant-like gomphothere has recently reappeared in the Borrego Valley! A family of three gomphotheres has been recreated and placed in the filed north of Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs.

Mad of pieces of patch-worked steel, these 12’ x 20’ free-standing sculptures are the first of about two dozen more representations of prehistoric life planned by property owner Dennis Avery and artist Ricardo Breceda. Two mammoths, two saber tooth cats and five turtles were added in early May on other Avery parcels scattered throughout the Borrego Valley, which are collectively known as Galleta Meadows.

Paleontologists tell us that gomphostheres roamed the Borrego Valley during the Pliocene Epoch, when the area was a more verdant environment. The long jaw and teeth were designed to eat leafy plants no longer found in Anza-Borrego. Today’s desert ocotillo and creosote scrub would not have been enough to sustain this large mammal that once roamed the lush savannas.

Anza-Borrego has one of the richest fossil records in North America, dating back 7 million or more years. I the striated layers of badlands deposits, paleontologists have found a myriad of marine fossils – vertebrates and invertebrates – as well as the remains of large terrestrial creatures such as mammoths, zebras, llamas, horses, large tortoises sabertooth cats, giant sloths, large birds including fossil flamingos, and several kinds of camels.

Avery has a keen interest in paleontology and hopes to spark interest in others as they discover these early inhabitants on view around the valley

It appears to have caught on. The menagerie is the talk of the town. It’s not unusual to see surprised residents and visitors pulling over and getting out of their cars for a closer look. They’re finding it’s not a mirage, the prehistoric animals have resurfaced.