Dr's Scott Wing, Tom Brown and Ken Rose were on Cedar Ridge outside of
Worland when they found this hermetically sealed forest. 70 million years ago, volcanic eruptions occurred near present-day Idaho and Montana. The ash from the explosions blew south and fell between
Ten Sleep and
Worland, then to the coast of an inland sea. This soil and plant life, determined to be of the Cretaceous era, was encapsulated in its natural growth position, which created the forest uncovered by the three scientists. This discovery has produced hundreds of plant species, including over 100 never before found or even known of in North America.
The site is administered by the Bureau of Land Management, and is open for public exploration. Many unique fossil finds are featured at the Washakie County Museum and Cultural Center in Worland.
