Animal Fossils to Stay at Irvine Valley College for Now

Animal fossils dating back more than 12 million years, which were uncovered in Bonita Canyon last summer, will be housed temporarily at Irvine Valley College.

The remains of 30 marine mammals and fish will be made available to “qualified vertebrate paleontologists” and students for study, research and preservation before permanent display at a planned International Learning Village at what is now the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station.

The decision ends months of speculation about where the prized find might eventually be housed. Unlike surrounding counties, Orange County has no centralized museum for public display of ancient remains.

Irvine College’s selection was part of an agreement between the city of Irvine and the property’s owner, the Irvine Co., which also donated $14,000.

The bones were unearthed in July during grading for construction of apartments. The discovery surprised scientists at the scene who first found one whale, then another and another. Archeologist Christopher E. Drover and paleontologist Paul Langenwalter said they believed that volcanic ash, which was also found at the dig, may have hurt the whales as they surfaced to breathe and killed off their food source.

George Brogan, an Irvine Valley marine science professor, said the decision to house the skeletons at the college will give students an opportunity to curate and study them.

Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea said she was pleased with Tuesday’s announcement but had hoped the fossils could be displayed permanently in Irvine.

“These ancient bones and fossils will allow us to learn more about our history and the creatures that inhabited our county millions of years ago,” Shea said.