Near Miami in Roberts County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Fossil Beds

(three miles southeast)

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 2, 2012

1. Fossil Beds Marker

Inscription. Cited as one of most prolific fossil fields of lower Pliocene age at time of discovery, these beds are about 13,000,000 years old. Geologists of Rio Bravo Oil Company found them in 1928 on C.C. Coffee Ranch, and their reports brought specialists from several major institutions to the area.

The fossil bones buried here included (among others) those of a prehistoric camel, a kind of antelope, horse, bone-crushing dog, mastodon and wild pig.

Further studies led scientists in 1941 to adopt “Hemphillian” as the name for the geologic age represented by these fossils.

Erected 1970 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 2039.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Paleontology. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 35° 44.465′ N, 100° 33.449′ W. Marker is near Miami, Texas, in Roberts County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 60 and Ranch to Market Road 3367, on the left when traveling west on U.S. 60. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Miami TX 79059, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Texas Panhandle.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Historic Roadside Park (approx. 0.8 miles away); Roberts County (approx. 1.1 miles away); Miami Cemetery

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(approx. 4.8 miles away); Quanah Parker Trail (approx. 5.4 miles away); Roberts County Courthouse (approx. 5½ miles away); Colonel O. M. Roberts (approx. 5½ miles away); Miami Railroad Depot (approx. 5.6 miles away); Cottage Hotel (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Miami.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 2, 2012

2. Fossil Beds Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, May 2, 2012

3. Fossil Beds Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,630 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 29, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.