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8-year-old Aurie Bledsoe, her little sister Kathryn, 2, get a hands-on lesson in spider body parts from Guthrie Jones, and his dad, ETSU biology professor T. J. Jones
slegg
Darwin Day

Dawin Day draws a crowd to Hands On! Discovery Center at Gray Fossil Site

The Hands-On Discovery Center at the Gray Fossil Site was a beehive of activity on Saturday as kids, parents and grandparents from around the region dropped in for the Darwin Day celebration hosted annually by site’s East Tennessee State University General Shale Natural History Museum.

Feb 10, 2019 at 12:14 AM
The Gray Fossil Site and Hands On! Discovery Center will celebrate Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month on Saturday.
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ETSU

Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month activities planned at Gray Fossil Site

The Gray Fossil Site and Hands On! Discovery Center will celebrate Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Aug 24, 2018 at 4:46 PM
Lisa Keeton-Stoner sits in her office, showing off a collection of shark teeth and other fossils found on the beach.
hswayze
Gray Fossil Site

Meet your neighbor: Lisa Keeton-Stoner

Wife, mother, business owner, geologist, archaeologist, consultant — these are just a few of the many hats that Johnson City resident Lisa Keeton-Stoner has worn throughout her life. Some of them she wears at the same time. 

Jul 8, 2018 at 8:20 PM
Hands On! Discovery Center's doors opened to members Tuesday night as families got a feel for the center's new home at the Gray Fossil Site and Museum.
jfuller
Hands On! Discovery Center

All hands on deck for discovery center's grand opening

It’s been a move 23 years in the making.

Updated Jun 12, 2018 at 11:27 PM
The newly named Hands On! Discovery Center's sign at the Gray fossil site.
emays
Hands On! Museum

New Hands On! location adds 12,000 square feet of exhibit space

The new Hands On! Discovery Center gives children more opportunities to learn about science and promotes better bonding between parents and their kids, Executive Director Andy Marquardt said.

Jun 6, 2018 at 11:31 PM
As We See It
JCP
As we see it

Hands On! and Gray Fossil Site: A natural fit for education, tourism

It’s especially ironic that Hands On! is leaving just when downtown is hitting its stride, but if Hands On! had to leave downtown, the Gray Fossil Site was the place to go.

Apr 28, 2018 at 8:15 AM
A depiction and size comparison of an early wolverine species found at the Gray Fossil Site.
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education

Study by ETSU researchers describes world’s oldest wolverine, provides new age estimate for Gray Fossil Site

Wolverines (Gulo gulo) are the largest terrestrial member of the weasel family today, and are distributed throughout cold, boreal habitats in North America and Eurasia. While wolverines are well-known for their ferocity, their fossil record is sparse and their origin has long been a mystery. A new discovery from the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee has the potential to change that.

Apr 20, 2018 at 9:15 PM
Paleontologist Chris Widga stands behind the completed jaw of the mastodon skeleton that researchers have been working to piece together for the past few years.
jfuller
Gray Fossil Site

Gray paleontologists make progress on 15-ton mastodon skull

More than two years into uncovering several mastodon skeletons from the Gray Fossil Site, paleontologists have pieced together the jaw of one individual who lived during the Miocene Era, about 4.5 million to 7 million years ago.

Updated Feb 11, 2018 at 12:02 AM
Schubert holds one of the bear skulls found on the fossil site in a cave in the Yucatan peninsula. He said what's remarkable is this skull, which is at least 10,000 years old, was discovered in one piece among dozens of other skeletons – including a human's.
jfuller
Gray Fossil Site

Fossil Site scientists travel the globe to discover prehistory

Scientists at Gray Fossil Site are still working hard to tell the area’s 5-million-year-old story, but their research extends to other parts of the world to continue uncovering bits and pieces of the past.

Updated Feb 11, 2018 at 12:02 AM
The Wilhoite Family learns about various geological finds during Saturday's Darwin Day event at the Gray fossil site. Cooper Wilhoite, left, celebrates the same birthday as Charles Darwin.
jfuller
Gray Fossil Site

Darwin Day keeps on evolving for 6th year

Organizers have decided that this year’s Darwin Day deserves a visit from Darwin himself.

Updated Feb 7, 2018 at 8:44 PM
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Gray Fossil Site

Gray Fossil Site events for January

January events at Gray Fossil Site & Museum

Updated Dec 22, 2017 at 9:18 AM
One of the main exhibits at the Gray Fossil Site and Museum includes skeletons of tapirs, one of the most abundant fossils found at the site.
bpaykamian
education

Fossil Celebration to be held at Gray Fossil Site Saturday

The Gray Fossil Site and Museum will hold a Fossil Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m to educate the public about recent paleontological discoveries at the ancient site.

Updated Nov 2, 2017 at 9:57 AM
Excavation of mastodont teeth at the Gray Fossil Site. Shawn Haugrud cleaning the teeth for a photograph, with assistance from Brian Compton.
ContributedToThePress
Gray Fossil Site

Hey fossil lovers, the Gray site needs you

Many volunteer positions are currently available, primarily assisting in the field, because of the recent discovery of a nearly complete mastodon skeleton, among several other individuals. Gray Fossil Site paleontologists are seeking dedicated people to help recover this and other specimens.

Updated May 31, 2017 at 9:19 PM
jfuller
Gray Fossil Site

Researchers discover new snake species at Gray Fossil Site

A new species of ancient snake has been discovered at the Gray Fossil Site, and it has something in common with the director of the site.

Updated May 21, 2017 at 7:57 PM
Nixon and Spencer Nowiski create plaster molds of fossils during their visit to the Gray fossil site on Saturday for Darwin Day.
jfuller
Gray Fossil Site

Fossil Site digs into spring with events, activities

Warmer months are bringing a slew of events around to the East Tennessee State University and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum in the next couple of weeks.

Mar 26, 2017 at 9:13 PM
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