Scene 23: Mamoth Ravine; Exhuming of Fossil Bones
The most recent scene to go on view at Restoring an American Treasure is Scene 23: Mammoth Ravine; Exhuming of Fossil Bones. In this scene, two gentlemen – one of whom may be Dickeson – watch as African-Americans dig into a river bluff containing prehistoric animal bones. An already-excavated skeleton lies in the foreground.
Although Dickeson’s main interest was amateur archaeology, during his time at Natchez, Mississippi, he dabbled in amateur paleontology as well. It was during these excavations that Dickeson made one of his most important discoveries: the Natchez Pelvis. Check back here tomorrow to learn more about the pelvis and the the controversy it created!
