BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCE INVENTORY

The paleontology of the area in and around Buffalo National River (BUFF) is significant, boasting fossiliferous material spanning from 485 million years ago to the present. Paleontology within the park has been studied largely through inference, based on localities in the immediate vicinity of the park, and through geologic surveys. This presentation represents the first attempt at a comprehensive paleontological report on BUFF. This was undertaken by conducting an extensive a literature review of material from surrounding locations, as well as from the Examine and Report Files (E&R) from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Additionally, a field survey was conducted by the author and colleagues within BUFF in order to expand the information from the literature review.

The majority of paleontological resources of BUFF are preserved in Paleozoic shallow marine sequences that characterize the underlying bedrock of the Boston Mountains. These shallow marine seas and lagoonal shoals supported an abundance of life, as is common in the Ordovician, Silurian, Mississippian, and Pennsylvanian geology. The karst topography of the limestone in the region produced sinkholes, and these sinkholes now contain a large amount of fossiliferous material from Pleistocene fauna, including bone deposits.

The study of the paleontological resources of BUFF are necessary to a detailed understanding of the history of the area, which is vital to the effective conservation and future study of these resources. This presentation provides the information necessary for interpretive staff to educate visitors to BUFF, and provides a foundational work for future research, such as a greater focus on Pleistocene fauna if the Conard Fissure is acquired.