Cumberland, Md., May 15, 2025 — A Smithsonian Institution publication released on May 1, 2025, unveils the extraordinary diversity of Ice Age animals preserved in a Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland, cave, marking it as the largest collection of Ice Age fossils in the eastern United States, north of Florida. The study, led by Dr. Ralph E. Eshelman, former director of the Calvert Marine Museum, and involving Calvert Marine Museum Curator of Paleontology Dr. Stephen J. Godfrey, details 154 species, including 109 vertebrates, discovered in the 700,000-year-old bone cave.
Discovered in 1912 during railroad excavation near Cumberland, the cave yielded fossilized remains of cave bears, peccaries, and American mink, among others. The publication, freely available online, compiles a century of research from 11 expeditions conducted by five museums between 1912 and 2012. The research team, comprising leading U.S. Pleistocene paleontologists, describes the site as the most significant fauna of its age east of the Mississippi River and north of Florida.
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The fossils’ presence is attributed to multiple factors. Carnivores and possibly peccaries lived in the cave, while tiny bones likely originated from owl pellets or predatory bird regurgitation. Some animals fell into the cave, becoming trapped or injured, or were lured by prey, leading to their demise. The cave’s environment during the Ice Age featured a slightly cooler climate than today, with lower summer highs amid mixed hardwood forests and open grassy lands.
Notable finds include bones of cave bears, large predators that roamed the region, and peccaries, pig-like herbivores now locally extinct. American mink fossils highlight the diversity of smaller mammals preserved. The publication includes detailed figures illustrating the cave’s discovery and key fossils, offering a comprehensive look at this paleontological treasure.
Dr. Eshelman anchored the study, with Dr. Godfrey contributing expertise as part of the expert team. Their work synthesizes decades of excavation data, providing the most complete record of the Cumberland bone cave to date. The site’s significance lies in its vast species count, with 154 identified, far surpassing other regional Ice Age sites north of Florida.
Excavations began shortly after the cave’s accidental discovery during railroad construction. Over the next century, museums, including the Smithsonian, systematically explored the site, uncovering fossils that paint a vivid picture of Ice Age life. The publication consolidates findings from these efforts, detailing the geological and environmental context of the cave’s formation.
Unfortunately, little of the original cave remains, and what persists is inaccessible, fenced off along an active railroad with hazardous rocky surroundings. This inaccessibility underscores the publication’s value, as it preserves the site’s legacy for researchers and the public. The online availability ensures broad access to this scientific milestone.
The Cumberland bone cave’s fossils reveal a snapshot of life 700,000 years ago, when diverse species thrived in Maryland’s prehistoric landscape. The study highlights the region’s role in understanding Ice Age ecosystems, with the cave’s unique conditions preserving an unparalleled record of vertebrate life.
