Construction Reveals Fossil 'Treasure Trove'

Construction crews working on a Southern California Edison substation have found a massive “treasure trove” of fossils in San Timoteo Canyon, a discovery that includes among its 1,450 specimens the remains of the oldest saber-toothed tiger ever found in California. This Smilodon gracilis is more than a million years older than the famous Smilodon fatalis unearthed in the La Brea tar pits. About 250 large vertebrae have been found so far, including bones from llamas, deer, horses, more big cats, and one of the oldest giant ground sloth fossils. Some species were previously unknown. The fossils will also help scientists study earthquake fault lines.