Old Bones in the New Tunnel

You may have seen the article in the July 19, 2010 Contra Costa Times titled "Fourth Bore Bones". Dr. Lanny Fisk, principal paleontologist for PaleoResources Consultants based in Auburn, CA was quoted as saying "It's rare to tunnel through a sequence like this. It's like laying time on its side." The article went on to say that this is the first time Caltrans has hired paleontologists at the beginning of a freeway project to monitor for fossils.

The fourth-bore drilling project is carving through many layers of earth formation 9-million to 10-million years old. Construction workers have unearthed fossils from the Miocene period in previous sites in our region and now we know that bones are being discovered in this project!

The Lafayette Historical Society will have professionals involved with the Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore project speak to attendees on their findings.