John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

This remote park is known for the fossils that have been discovered in the area. They are prehistoric mammals, not dinosaurs. This may sound familiar... We saw many of the same species at Ashfall in Nebraska last summer. Interesting to see how many animals there were and how they may have evolved. Tortoises, rhinos, and beavers are the most similar to the animals we know today. There is also an area called the Painted Hills. The lines in the hillside show the different prehistoric climates and time periods.