Archaeologists Find 1882 Rifle Leaning Against Nevada Desert Tree

[Wagriff]

I wonder if they found a scalped mummified body near by....or found a set of teeth in some old bear droppings...

[Jerry B]

A great story if true, but it surprises me that the tree has not grown around it in all that time, when compared with so many WWII items you see that are partly encased by wood. Maybe this type of tree does not grow that way or that quickly, but it still surprises me. Bah humbug!!!!

As an archaeologist, I know the propensity for bigging up any items found to their maximum potential by my peers (& I).

[plumbob]

Thanks for the link. very interesting.
I also liked reading the comments below of what other people have found if true.
thanks
Rod

[big ned]

A great story if true, but it surprises me that the tree has not grown around it in all that time, when compared with so many WWII items you see that are partly encased by wood. Maybe this type of tree does not grow that way or that quickly, but it still surprises me. Bah humbug!!!!

As an archaeologist, I know the propensity for bigging up any items found to their maximum potential by my peers (& I).

Nothing grows fast in the Great Basin Desert due to it being America's only 'Cold Desert' where temperatures can drop alarmingly quickly from very hot to very cold, and it can snow there at any period of the year. Most days there are thunderstorms in mid afternoon as well. This is caused by the confluence of hot and cold air coming off the Pacific over the various conjoining mountain systems that often 'funnel' seperate weather fronts to collide.

These conditions cause many trees and shrubs to grow very, very slowly, so perhaps that may explain why the rifle has not been subsumed into the Acacia tree as one might expect. The Great Basin Desert is in fact home to the Bristlecone Pine, the worlds oldest and one of the slowest growing species of tree.

But of course, although the gun was made 130 odd years ago, it's likely it hasn't been there that long. Perhaps only 20-30 years, maybe a lot more, maybe a little less, who knows?? Good story though...

Regards, Ned.

[Gunny Hartmann]

Nothing grows fast in the Great Basin Desert due to it being America's only 'Cold Desert' where temperatures can drop alarmingly quickly from very hot to very cold, and it can snow there at any period of the year. Most days there are thunderstorms in mid afternoon as well. This is caused by the confluence of hot and cold air coming off the Pacific over the various conjoining mountain systems that often 'funnel' seperate weather fronts to collide.

These conditions cause many trees and shrubs to grow very, very slowly, so perhaps that may explain why the rifle has not been subsumed into the Acacia tree as one might expect. The Great Basin Desert is in fact home to the Bristlecone Pine, the worlds oldest and one of the slowest growing species of tree.

But of course, although the gun was made 130 odd years ago, it's likely it hasn't been there that long. Perhaps only 20-30 years, maybe a lot more, maybe a little less, who knows?? Good story though...

Regards, Ned.

Ned the weather!.....

[lithgow]

'Ned the Renaissance Man' more like it!

[big ned]

You may laugh mortals.....Crow Agency, Rocky mountains in July! And that's the truth.

[James C]

great thread and very thought provoking im liking the pie and mash ned

[big ned]

great thread and very thought provoking im liking the pie and mash ned

Yes......They never did find the body.

[Gunny Hartmann]

great thread and very thought provoking im liking the pie and mash ned

Very 1970s porn starish!....