Episode Details

On this episode, we explore the long, hard process of preserving Dolly the Mastodon. In 2024, University of Iowa archaeologists excavated the first-ever well-preserved mastodon skull found in the state. For the past two years the skull has since been cleaned and preserved at the Office of the State Archaeologist and was recently transported to its permanent home at the Prairie Trails Museum of Wayne County, with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Sept. 26. On this episode, we witness the final progress with State Archaeologist John Doershuk and Mike Eklund, who's been consulting on the work. We also talk with museum director Brenda DeVore about her work preparing the new exhibit, and we hear from lead Dolly preparator and University of Iowa junior Will Sprengelmeyer.