Further Lost Bones #4 updates: My Minnesota paleo-horse project—developed in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM)—just picked up even more momentum. In my last update, I mentioned that several teeth housed in county historical societies across the state were slated for high‑resolution CT scanning. As part of the same initiative, we’ve now secured funding to move forward with radiocarbon dating as well. With support through a Minnesota Historical Society legacy grant officially in place, we’ll be on the road over the coming weeks, collecting specimens from partner institutions across Minnesota.

This fieldwork follows the recent submission of my abstract for the 2025 Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums (MALHM) conference in Mankato this spring. I’ll be presenting a case study demonstrating how coordinated partnerships between scientific institutions, state-level funding bodies, and county historical societies can transform local fossils—specimens that might otherwise never again see the light of day—into scientifically testable material.

Soon we’ll have all twelve specimens under SMM’s roof, marking the shift from planning to full-on execution. Each specimen will be documented, CT scanned, 3D printed. and prepared for radiocarbon dating analysis as we work to finally pin down when these ancient horses moved across the state’s post‑glacial landscape.

More soon as travel and collections work gets underway!

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