"There's never been this type of density of fossils ever found at a site like this before in California," said Wayne Bischoff, the director of cultural resources at Envicom Corp. He noted that it is the largest marine bone bed found in Los Angeles and Orange counties, emphasizing its significance for understanding the area's geological history.
Richard Behl, a geologist at Long Beach State, expressed the investigative nature of their work: "We're kind of like detectives. We got to find clues and piece those clues together," highlighting the scientific effort to analyze the chemical and mineral composition of the fossils to uncover environmental insights from millions of years ago.
Behl mentioned the significance of diatomite encasing the Miocene fossils, stating, "The diatomite tells me that the area was nutrient rich with algae that supported a complex ecosystem including dolphins, fish and whales," indicating how these findings contribute to understanding ancient marine life and ecological conditions.
Along with marine fossils, Bischoff expressed excitement about discovering an entire shore ecology alongside the main fossil finds, which included skulls of sandpipers and pieces of driftwood, showcasing the diverse ecosystem that existed at the site.
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