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The Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds tells the story of what the life and landscape of John Day country was like about 25 million years ago. The rising Cascade Range had cut off the inland from moist Pacific winds, restricting annual rainfall to about 30 inches. The forests were giving way to grasslands. As indicated by the large collection of fossils preserved in the rock formed from volcanic ash, life was diverse and abundant. There were many members of the family of oreodonts, some as small as a jackrabbit and others as large as a cow. Sabertooth, cat-like predators hunted here. Miohippus, an early evolutionary form of today's horse that grew no bigger than a colt, and pig-like entelodonts, ranged through the area. The primitive collection of wildlife also included Diceratherium, a cow-sized ancestral rhinoceros and Hypertragulus, a mouse-deer that has living relatives in Africa and Asia. Most of the animals of this period have descendants living somewhere in the world today. The Sheep Rock Visitor Center and Fossil Museum, located in the historic Cant Ranch, is the principal information center for the monument and includes museum exhibits of fossils recovered from the John Day Basin., information, book sales, and outdoor exhibits on the historic ranch grounds. The shaded lawn of the visitor center is a favored picnicking site. The monument is an area of active research. Fossils are continually being collected from all units. Visitors may view a laboratory in which specimens are prepared for scientific study and for use in future exhibits - John Day Fossil Beds Official Park Guide Directions: From John Day, Oregon, travel west on HW26 past Dayville until you reach the junction with HW19. Take HW19 north through Picture Gorge (last picture to the right) for about 5 miles. The visitors center will be on the right. |
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