Snowmass fossil finds inspire NOVA’s ‘Ice Age Death Trap’

SNOWMASS VILLAGE – The discovery of ancient fossils near Snowmass Village will be the focus of “Ice Age Death Trap” on NOVA, which airs on Rocky Mountain PBS Wednesday at 8 p.m.The television special, which airs nationally, follows scientists as they recover the well-preserved bones of mammoths, mastodons and other extinct species from Ziegler Reservoir, just outside of the resort. The first bones were discovered there in the fall of 2010, during enlargement of the reservoir, triggering a large-scale fossil excavation earlier this year, after winter released its grip on the site.The documentary serves as a primer for “Digging Snowmastodon,” to be published in March by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Aspen-based People’s Press. The book is co-authored by the museum’s leaders at the dig, Dr. Kirk Johnson and Dr. Ian Miller.Incidentally, readers of National Geographic will find a brief, one-page mention of the fossil discoveries near Snowmass in the issue that is on magazine stands now.