Mastodon State Historic Site is an important archaeological and paleontological site located about 15 miles south of St. Louis, MO. The Kimmswick Bone Bed is there. In the early 1800s bones of mastodons, giant sloths, sabertooth tigers, and other now extinct animals were first found. The area is considered one of the most extensive Pleistocene ice age deposits in the country and attracts scientists from all over the world.
In 1979 a major discovery was made. For years scientists argued over whether or not Clovis Man (named for the distinctive clovis spear points he made) actually hunted the huge mammoths. We weren’t even sure they existed at the same time (circa 15,000BC to 10,000BC). But that controversy ended when in 1979 a clovis spear point was found inside the skeleton of a mastodon at this location. It was solid and convincing evidence and changed the course of thinking about Clovis people.
The Park has a nice museum with a mastodon, clovis people, and other beasts in full size replica. They show a short movie on the subject as well. There is also a nice trail system and picnic area. This site is considered one of the oldest American Indian site you can actually visit.
Here is contact information for this important park:
Address: Mastodon State park
1050 Museum Drive
Imperial, MO 63052
Phone: (636) 464-2976
Directions: 20 miles south of St. Louis off I-55 at Exit 186 in Jefferson County
Website: Click here