Miracle Mile in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Pit 9
La Brea Tar Pits
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, November 24, 2025
1. Pit 9 Marker
Tar Entraps Mighty Mammoths
Looks can be deceiving. This small tar-filled pit was once a major dig that produced hundreds of La Brea's biggest fossils: Columbian mammoth bones. Twelve-foot-tall, 11-ton Columbian mammoths were the largest, most powerful creatures in Ice Age L.A. But even they couldn't overcome La Brea's sticky goo. This pit trapped at least 27 individual Columbian mammoths.
When dd we dig here?
We excavated Pit 9 from 1913 to 1915. It was the ninth of 96 pits we dug during that period.
How old are the fossils?
The oldest fossils from Pit 9 are more than 40,000 years old; the most recent are 13,000 years old.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Paleontology.
Location. 34° 3.865′ N, 118° 21.46′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Miracle Mile. It can be reached from 6th Street east of Fairfax Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Los Angeles CA 90036, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: How Did 27 Columbian Mammoths Fit in This Small Pit? (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Pit 9 (a few steps from this marker); Project 23: Who, What, Why, Where, and How? (a few steps from this marker); What's in the crates? (a few steps from this marker); Project 23 (a few steps from this marker); Pit 13 (within shouting distance of this marker); Pit 91 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Pit 13 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, November 24, 2025
2. Pit 9 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 41 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. High-resolution closeup photo of the marker. • Can you help?
