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Giant Ground Sloth
The Prehistory of Florida Gallery at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science holds this impressive exhibit. Imagine a 13-foot, three to five-ton mammal roaming through the Daytona Beach streets. While it rings scary, this giant creature lived 130,000 years ago, long before humans walked the Earth. Welcome to the world of the Giant Ground Sloth, an excellent piece of prehistoric history!
This finding occurred in October 1975 in Reed Canal Park, now The Daytona Beach Bone Bed. It was a labor of love that spanned two and a half years, with dedicated volunteers digging for the sloth’s bones. Once excavated, the remains were handed over to Dr. Gordon Edmund. Under his command, the sloth was identified and reconstructed for the Museum. However, it doesn’t stop there.
The fossils included are more than the Giant Ground Sloth. With the remains found 12 feet below the surface, experts created a prehistoric ecosystem. Picture a world where mammoths, mastodons, and the rare Cuvieronius Elephant mingled with tapirs, capybaras, and a massive nine-foot glyptodont. In addition, the excavation revealed the remains of over 50 other species, including some that still thrive today, such as deer and bobcats.
Moreover, the Giant Ground Sloth is North America’s most well-preserved and complete fossil. But here’s the kicker – it’s not just the creatures that astounded scientists. It was the plant life, too. For instance, researchers reconstructed the prehistoric environment using newly discovered plant material. Ancient tree seeds pointed to a swamp forest near a marsh, with trapped pollen telling secrets from 130,000 years ago.
Now, imagine this fascinating history on display for you to explore. You don’t have to imagine it; you can witness it firsthand at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science. It’s a journey through time that you won’t want to miss.
The Trails reside on the 22 acres that border the Museum's location. The Trails are owned and maintained by the City of Cocoa and are open dusk to dawn 7 days a week. The access gates are opened and closed by a group of City volunteers. You may wander from a half mile up to two miles through the ecologically friendly area that includes a bridge over wetlands and inclines over the sand dunes. Additionally, the trails are open when the museum is open, Thursday thru Saturday, 10am to 4pm.