The Diaries of a Bonedigger

Through the original writings and photography of Harold Rollin Wanless, this book paints a thorough and engaging picture of the White River Badlands' landscape, geology, biology, pioneer settlers, and how life was lived 100 years ago in a harsh, challenging, remote setting.In the summer of 1920, Harold Rollin Wanless, fresh from an undergraduate geology degree at Princeton, spent the first of three summers in the Badlands of South Dakota camping, hiking, and collecting fossil vertebrate skulls for Professor Sinclair. Harold produced a fascinating and thorough diary and report, illustrated with over 100 of his black and white and color plates, in which he explains all aspects of the geology, biology, and climate of this famous area. In addition, he becomes deeply involved with and vividly records the life, hopes, trials and character of the new homesteading pioneers of the area.This is an engaging look at the history, environment, people and geological character of a unique portion of the American West. Combining a first-hand look at the White River Badlands and its people a century ago with the fossil history contained in its Cenozoic sediments gives a well-rounded historical presentation.In introductory and concluding chapters, the present authors, Emmett Evanoff and Harold Rogers Wanless (son), provide a broader perspective of Harold Rollin Wanless' life and his significant achievements beyond this Badlands' venture, and they update his scientific methods, observations, and interpretations to our present approaches and understanding. In addition, a narrative written only a century ago provides a stark contrast with how we travel, communicate, conduct research, and survive today, yet shows that human, curiosity, interactions, and kindnesses have not changed.