Research in the Park

Our national parks are living laboratories for many fields of study. Petrified Forest National Park, of course, is best known for its amazing deposits of Late Triassic fossils. Archeology is another science that has been supported in the park, from the rare artifacts of the Clovis and Folsom Cultures (beginning over 13,000 years ago) to the ancestral Puebloan sites to surveying the old alignment of Route 66. Petrified Forest is lucky enough to have an in-house paleontologist and archeologist, along with shorter termed employees, interns, and visiting researchers.

This summer, a herpetologist is studying lizards—as well as other reptiles and amphibians that present themselves. There has also been a group of archeologists surveying the amazing diversity of petroglyphs in the park. This morning the researcher will present information on these ancient symbols pecked into the rock surfaces by past people.

Past research has included social studies, too. Focus groups were tapped for their take on museum exhibits. Visitors have been asked for what they found to be the best way for them to understand and enjoy the park. Demographic studies help the National Park Service update and innovate offerings to respond to changing trends.

What else can we learn from the national parks? Geology, hydrology, preservation, ethnology, history, there isn’t a limit on what your parks can offer to learning more about our planet and ourselves.

For researchers interested in the national parks and applying for a permit, visit the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System.