Treasure Trove of Fossils Discovered in Irvine

In what could be one of Orange County’s richest fossil finds, archeologists have discovered a treasure trove of remains, including evidence of more than 30 ancient marine mammals and fish and a remarkably preserved whale skeleton that could date back more than 12 million years.

Two weeks ago, graders slashing the earth in Bonita Canyon near MacArthur Boulevard in Irvine exposed what appeared to be ancient bones. An archeology team was dispatched to the Irvine Co. property and after a little digging, the remains of one whale appeared. Then another, and another.

“We thought it was going to be a small bone site,” said Richard Krautkramer, one of the crew members. “But we kept going until we found one whale, then another and another. Then we found sharks, I mean different species of sharks. That’s when we had to bring down a bigger crew.”

Although archeologists say more research is needed before they can determine how significant the find is, several notable discoveries have piqued their interest, including:

* Evidence of volcanic ash, which could point to an eruption responsible for killing off the sea creatures.

* An unusual species of baleen whale--perhaps the oldest of its kind ever discovered--that could date back to the Miocene period. Archeologists estimate the whale to be 12 million to 14 million years old.

* The remains of sea cows and a predator believed to be the great white shark’s ancestor.

Orange County has been the site of many paleontological finds, including whale remains in Bedford Canyon.

The largest number of sea creatures and land animals was discovered in the Eastbluff area of Newport Beach in the 1970s, said Cam Wallis, a volunteer paleontologist with the Orange County Natural History Assn.

For years, developers’ bulldozers have unearthed treasures that have helped scientists interpret how animals and fish have evolved.

“The whole of the coastline all the way down from Washington down to Baja California is a very rich depository of marine fossils,” said John Harris, administrator and chief curator of the George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries in Los Angeles. “Much of what we know about the evolution of the whales is due to what we find along this coast.”

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The find has delayed work on the Irvine Co.’s 500-acre project in Bonita Canyon called Harbor View North.

At the site, crews used a broom to carefully sweep away soil covering the fossils.

Surrounding the finds were wooden stakes outlining each creature’s skeleton.

Said Krautkramer of the discoveries: “It’s exciting working here.”

Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea said she hopes the whales and other skeletons can eventually be placed on public display, possibly in Irvine.