Ep 1. Welcome to Fossil Country

Welcome to Fossil Country, the first episode of Prehistoric Road Trip season 1 takes the viewers on a thrilling journey through western America in search of prehistoric treasures. The show is presented by Emily Graslie, who is a chief curiosity correspondent at the Field Museum in Chicago.

The episode begins with Emily introducing herself and her mission to explore and discover the natural history of America. She sets out on a road trip to the beautiful state of Montana, where she visits the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center. There, Emily meets up with Dr. David Varricchio, a paleontologist and expert on the region's prehistoric history.

Dr. Varricchio takes Emily on a tour of the Two Medicine Formation, and they explore the beautiful Montana landscape in search of fossils. The duo discovers various fossils, including the well-preserved remains of a duck-billed dinosaur. Emily learns about the evolution and extinction of dinosaurs and how their fossils have helped us understand more about these prehistoric creatures.

Next, Emily travels to the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, where she plans to investigate the impact of massive geological changes on prehistoric ecosystems. Emily meets up with Dr. Brent Hendrixson, an expert on reptiles and amphibians, who takes her on a hike to a cave to see some amazing creatures that have survived for millions of years.

Emily is amazed by the cave's inhabitants, including cave crickets and salamanders. She learns about the unique conditions that have allowed these creatures to survive for so long and how they've adapted to thriving in this dark, damp environment.

The last leg of Emily's journey takes her to the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota, where she meets up with Dr. Jim Mead, a renowned expert on mammoths and other Ice Age creatures. There, she explores the site of the largest-known accumulation of mammoth fossils in the world.

Emily learns more about what may have caused these creatures to become extinct and how scientists study the fossils to understand more about the era during which they lived. She is fascinated by the massive tusks and teeth of the mammoths and how they were used to identify species and their evolutionary patterns.

Throughout the episode, Emily meets experts from different fields and engages in fascinating conversations that delve deep into the natural history of prehistoric America. She discovers how fossils and historical evidences add to our knowledge about these magnificent creatures and their ecosystems.

Overall, Welcome to Fossil Country is an engaging and educational episode that provides a glimpse into the natural history of America, including the various types of fossils and remains that have been discovered. Emily's infectious enthusiasm and curiosity, along with the expert commentary of the specialists she encounters, make this episode a memorable journey for viewers and an experience that will stay with them for a long time.