Monday, Aug. 18, 2008

Group hopes to turn Tri-City dig site into educational hub

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

Tri-City high school students helped dig up history this spring when they sifted through rock and dirt to find ancient mammoth bones on a 27-acre site southwest of Kennewick.

Now history is being made there too.

A nonprofit group has formed with the idea of turning the dusty open land into a hub for science education and exploration.

"We are looking at turning this into a major research and interpretive site for the region," said Jake Shapley, a Central Washington University graduate student who's helping with the project.

The planning still is in early stages and leaders are working on a specific vision and timeline for the property. They're also looking to raise money and public support.

Shapley was co-leader of the May dig at the site that unearthed the bones believed to be from a Columbian mammoth. The kind of elephant lived 11,000 to 400,000 years ago.

Teens from Kamiakin High School in Kennewick assisted Shapley and his crew from the Ellensburg university.

The find was considered significant because several bones were uncovered in good condition. It's possible more bones are buried in other spots on the property, Shapley said.

Leaders of the nonprofit want to collaborate with area school districts to continue work at the site and provide students with invaluable hands-on science experience, Shapley said.

The soil itself also could provide the public a snapshot of history.

"The site offers us the chance to look potentially at millions of years of geological activity," from earth touched by the Ice Age floods to ancient layers of basalt, Shapley said.

The future of the land was uncertain during the May dig because it was owned by a bank and was for sale. But two brothers from the Tri-Cities agreed to buy it so it could be used for education. The brothers asked not to be named publicly.

Their spokeswoman and realtor, Cindy House of A & V Enterprises in Kennewick, is on the small managing board that's overseeing development of the property. Shapley is on the board too.

They're also hoping to build up a larger network of experts to give input into the site.

They've spoken to Kimberly Camp, who is in charge of the multimillion-dollar Hanford Reach Interpretive Center planned for Columbia Point in Richland.

Camp said the center is interested in displaying the mammoth bones and sees ways for the groups to work together to benefit the community.

A ground breaking on the Hanford Reach center is expected in nine months to a year.

The mammoth group is calling its site the McBones Research Center. "McBones" stands for Mid-Columbia Basin Old Natural Educational Sciences.

House said the group especially needs someone who can build a website and someone with expertise as an electrician.

To get involved, call her at 438-5903.