by Justin Tweet
National Park Service (NPS) staff have resumed publication of the “Park Paleontology Newsletter” after a hiatus of 13 years. An earlier version of this newsletter was published from 1991 to 2004 over 8 volumes, with partial archives available at here. This first version began as a physical newsletter mailed to subscribers. Both the original and the reborn series are the creations of NPS paleontologist Vince Santucci. Vince began the newsletter as a way to communicate information about NPS paleontological resources to concerned audiences within the NPS and in the greater scientific community. A typical issue might contain short articles on such topics as new findings, ongoing and upcoming research projects, new paleo staff, legislation and management, and new exhibits or other outreach and education efforts.
The new edition follows in that tradition, although it was not designed as a physical document. Instead, the new version gathers several online articles created especially for it. The topics of this first new edition include a new exhibit at Big Bend National Park, type specimens from NPS units, Geoscientist-in-the-Parks intern Emily Thorpe’s work at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument’s new Chief Paleontologist Nick Famoso, dinosaur tracks at Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, and the history of the newsletter itself. We plan to produce new issues twice a year. If you have any questions or comments, or are interested in contributing an article, please contact Vincent L. Santucci, NPS Paleontology Program coordinator, via the email link at the main page of the newsletter.
To view all of the articles in the Spring 2017 issue, please visit
https://www.nps.gov/articles/series.htm?id=4C7C6693-1DD8-B71B-0B8FEA6686353721