Riverbluff Cave

The Riverbluff Cave is a paleontological site discovered in the United States, near Springfield, Missouri. The entrance is filled with stalactites, stalagmites and columns. The cave is about 830,000 years old (making it the oldest known fossil cave site in the US[1]) and 610 m long, featuring Pleistocene fossils, notably of the short-faced bear (Artcodus simus) the largest bear species on the Earth (around 5–6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing in the area of 2,000 pounds).[2]

The cave Is located in the widespread karst landscape of the Springfield Plateau of the western Missouri Ozarks and developed within the soluble Mississippian limestones of the region. It was unveiled accidentally on September 11, 2001 when engineers were blasting for a new road.[3]

The cave is not open to the public, but is the world's second cave to be wired for virtual tours.[4] The Riverbluff Cave Field House opened in 2009 with exhibits of fossils from Riverbluff Cave and from around the world.[5]

References
  1. Return to Riverbluff Cave, Matt Forir, Springfield Park Board, Becky Baker, Missouri State University
  2. Figueirido; et al. (2010). "Demythologizing Arctodus simus, the 'short-faced' long-legged and predaceous bear that never was". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (1): 262–275. doi:10.1080/02724630903416027. S2CID 85649497.
  3. "Riverbluff Cave: History". Riverbluff Cave. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  4. Springfield-Greene County Library Board of Trustees
  5. Evans, Matt (May 5, 2009). "Riverbluff Cave Field House Annex Opens". KSMU. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-30.


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