Photo of paleontologist excavating fossils

Browse by Topic

Excavations

Exhibitions

Onlookers watch scientists in the Fossil Lab

Exhibition | Tar Pits

What happens after the fossils at La Brea Tar Pits are excavated? This is where you find out.

Image of mammoths

Exhibition | Tar Pits

Travel back in time with Titans of the Ice Age.

Events

See all events

Mon

19

Aug

Project 23 is an active excavation

Project 23 Revealed

11:30 am

Walk to our current excavation where you’ll talk to real excavators about their newest discoveries and learn the inside story of Project 23.

Mon

19

Aug

Photo of paleontologist excavating fossils

Excavator Tour

12 pm
1 pm
2 pm

The Excavator Tour explores the Fossil Lab where real paleontologists work; our historic excavation pits; and Project 23, where live excavations can be seen.

Mon

19

Aug

guests family kids la brea tar pits fossil lab

Inside the Fossil Lab

2:30 pm

Discover how our paleontologists clean, sort, and study fossils uncovered in the Tar Pits!

Mon

19

Aug

gallery interpreter saberooth smilodon skull la brea tar pits guest kid

Discoveries from the Tar Pits

3:30 pm

Hear some of the little-known stories behind the world’s most famous Ice Age fossil site.

Tue

20

Aug

Project 23 is an active excavation

Project 23 Revealed

11:30 am

Walk to our current excavation where you’ll talk to real excavators about their newest discoveries and learn the inside story of Project 23.

Stories

View More

fossils of saber-toothed cat vertebrae on trays in the La Brea Tar Pits Museum’s collections room;

Paleo Prep School

Students dig up the bones of real prehistoric beasts for college credit in the first-ever La Brea Tar Pits Field School.

Project 23 boxes and bins

Treasure Boxes of the Ice Age

A decade of rich digs at Project 23

Discover more

Future Paleontologist

Dig up the past as you discover the science of the fossil’s journey from excavation to our col

Tar Pits in Peru

Our Expeditions

Our goal is to foster integrative research collaborations at asphaltic fossil localities around the world.