Miracle Mile in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Pit 13

— La Brea Tar Pits —

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, November 24, 2025

1. Pit 13 Marker

Inscription.
Life and Death in Long Ago L.A.
This peaceful park was perilous for animals who walked here 20,000 years ago. La Brea's goo made this unsafe ground for both predator and prey. Six-foot-tall, 2,000-pound sloths got stuck here and died. So did bison, horses, and camels. As these creatures lay dying, hungry dire wolves and other predators tried to live off their remains. Many of them died in the process.

When did we dig here?
We excavated Pit 13 from 1913 to 191. It was the 13th of 96 pits we dug during that period.

How old are the fossils?
The oldest fossils from Pit 13 are 20,000 years old, the most recent are 8,000 years old.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Paleontology. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 34° 3.871′ N, 118° 21.49′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Miracle Mile. It can be reached from West 6th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5939 W 6th Street, Los Angeles CA 90036, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Pit 13 (a few steps from this marker); Death Trap for Meat-Eaters (a few steps from this marker); Project 23: Who, What, Why, Where, and How?

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Pit 9 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1,000 feet above an underground oil field (within shouting distance of this marker); How Did 27 Columbian Mammoths Fit in This Small Pit? (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Pit 9 (within shouting distance of this marker); What's in the crates? (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 13 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 28 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.