The Life of a Fossil Hunter

by Charles H. Sternberg

I wish to call the attention of the reader of my story “The Life of a Fossil Hunter” to the fact that I am under obligations especially to Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn, President and Curator of Paleontology of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He has supplied me with many of the most beautiful of the illustrations that illumine these pages and has assisted the work in many ways.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Science, Dinosaurs, Palaeontology, Biography, Westerns

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1909

About the author

Charles Hazelius Sternberg (1850- )

Reviews

[Lois Bujold · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, when I was out in Oregon with my daughter last month, during our circle tour of the John Day fossil beds, the other item I picked up at the Sheep Rock education center bookstall was a chapbook that proved to be a one-chapter excerpt from a longer work, The Life of a Fossil Hunter (1909) by Charles H. Sternberg. When I came home, I was able to get the whole volume from my library. It has had numerous reprints over the century, and I see that it is now also available as an e-book.


Sternberg was born in 1850, and lived into the 1940s. (I guess if he could survive the life in the field that he describes, he could survive most anything.) He was one of a great cadre of 19th Century science geeks who, while all the noise and nonsense of the Gilded Age and the Wild West was passing, were quietly creating the future of the world. As he remarks toward the end of the book, when he began in 1876 there were only five working paleontologists in America; by 1909, when this was first published, it was a real profession, with great museums to showcase the results.


Sternberg himself was not an academic – he had only one year of college when a letter to Edward Drinker Cope started him on his first expedition – but his writing is clear and fine, with a vividly authentic 19th Century voice already anticipating the 20th. The chapters are organized not chronologically, as one might expect of a biography, but geologically, as he recounts his various adventures in different areas and fossil strata, from Kansas to Montana to Oregon to Texas. Every once in a while a reminder pops up of what a young science it all was then, still scrambling for its framework, as when he refers to a strata of dinosaurs supposed to be 12 million years old, and marvels at the depth of time that represents. (He's out by an order of magnitude, but trending in the right direction.) Or an anecdote about a certain German paleontologist, presented with the dismembered vertebrae of a prehistoric species Zeuglodon with no entire specimens yet found, who just kept connecting them up till he had mounted a monster of enormous length... (Sternberg's find proved it should have been limited to 85.)


We learn very little of Sternberg's personal life along the way but much about the things he valued, including the advancement of science, in which he was clearly proud even to be a footnote, making up in his mind for what moderns would find the really appalling privations of field work when everything was done by hand or by horse. (And the Western horses were by no means always cooperative.) Ducking the occasional Indian war or grizzly bear (*) while trying to maintain a dig and protect his results added yet another element to the background chaos taken for granted. Although at some point Sternberg's sons enter the picture as junior paleontologists – three of them followed him into the profession, going on to distinguished careers of their own – putting me briefly in mind of the relationship between Indiana Jones and his Dad. (We never do learn Mrs. Sternberg's name.)


I do wonder why so much celluloid is wasted on the likes of jerks like Jesse James and his ilk, when these real heroes are ignored. Where are the films about James Clerk Maxwell, just as a ferex? Or, if you want more action, Sternberg himself, or his colorful senior colleagues Cope and Marsh? Or any of several hundred other early scientists. Why is the worst glamorized, and the best utterly ignored?


Anyway, recommended for anyone interested in the history of science, which should be everyone.

Ta, L.


* Actually, when finally presented with a grizzly -- shot ten days prior in high summer -- Sternberg's response was to claim and clean the one-ton reeking carcass for the skeleton, a truly gagging process. But, science...

[Peter Tillman]

Gutenberg link (out of copyright): http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57178

This started out well, and Sternberg is legendary in the dinosaur-hunter world. But he wasn't much of a writer, it turns out, and I've lost interest. I might still return to it (I have the free ebook), but for now it' s on indefinite hiatus. Left unrated.

[Nick Cincotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first found out about this book, I knew it will take me a day to read when I started it eventually. No truer words have ever been written about paleontology. Sternberg is truly a giant of the field; his discoveries adorn the halls of many museums around the world. This book serves not only as his story but the story of the early paleontologists. He details the trials and tribulations of the greats of paleontology and what it meant to find what they found. It ends so perfectly with the description and his reaction to discovering the mummified hadrosaur, that can be seen in the American museum of natural history. Sternberg's words brought chills to me as I read this book. In the words of Charles Sternberg "I set before myself as a boy, and have done my humble part toward building up the great science of paleontology. I shall perish, but my fossils will last as long as the museums that have secured them."

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Crichton uses this book as a source and even quotes from it in Dragon Teeth, a fictional account of an 1876 fossil hunting expedition which included Charles Sternberg, a real life procurer of fossils for Prof. Edwin Drinker Cope.

Sternberg's original work gives a glimpse into the mindset of someone willing to risk life and limb and endure many privations to unearth fossils that advance knowledge of life on earth. It is a series of reports of various western expeditions. Although there are dramatic moments--points at which he could have died from falling or exposure--it's mostly a lot of detail about where he went, what he found and difficulties he encountered with helpers and horses.

I think this would be of interest mainly to those who are fascinated by paleontology. Since I read this on Kindle, the illustrations were small and difficult to see. It was disappointing that he doesn't talk about the "bone wars," between Cope and rival paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh. The rivalry forms a major part of the story line in Dragon Teeth.

[Trish Remley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Sternberg published this book in 1909. Was very interesting about how life and fossil hunting was done back in the late 19th century and the sheer number of fossils founds, new species.....often very tough & dangerous work. A large portion right in our own back yard - western Kansas. But also Oregon & Texas. Sternberg worked mostly for Edward Cope. Huge competition for fossils at that time - primarily Othniel Charles Marsh. These fossils that Charles Sternberg recovered are located in museums all over -American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Yale Peabody Museum, and the main Natural History Museum in Britian to site a few. This was also a time of Native American wars and was unfortunate (but unfortuanely true) to read about the attitudes toward Native Americans and people of color. Although Sternberg talks about all that is going on around him, he seemed to really only care about collecting fossils and safely shipping them back east.

[Elina Belova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was listening the audiobook version. Not much surprising was happening, but there is something fascinating about fossil hunting itself. It was interesting to get a glimpse of events in Charles H. Sternberg's professional life that took place in the late 19th century. He tells about the first time discovered fish and reptiles; elephants, dinosaurs and many other creatures. Isn't that cool!

[The Busta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles H. Sternberg, 1879: Dinosaurs are so cool :)

Me, 2024: Dinosaurs are so cool :)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read this book, make sure you get the edition with images. This was like reading a wild west story that was solely about academia and 1000 ways to get killed on the frontier. The author doesn't write in very poetic terms about the indigenous people so you can really tell it was written 100 years ago. Despite that, you do really get a feel of the birth of the paleontology field. Sternberg name drops a lot of collectors and scientific men of the time such as Marsh and Cope, but if you never heard of them before, you won't get too much insight into who they were. You get a real feel of what kind of rough and tumble man the author was and his love for science, but this book certainly didn't age well.

[Karolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review: at first I didn't give this book much chance, but it turn out to be really interesting, such an and adventurer book should. Mr.Sternberg was one peculiar scientist, nature lover who dedicated his whole life to fossil discoveries. His story also includes political situation and American Indian war, intruding peoples properties in various occasions and it was, besides it's palenontology importance, a really good adventure novel.

[Nikki]

I couldn't get past his gleeful pursuit and killing of buffalo (this was the mid-1800s). It just made it all the worse that they just did it for "fun" and wasted a beautiful being, which in a nutshell is why the buffalo nearly went extinct due to white man's greed and glee. 9/2017

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Greater than their obligations to me, are mine to the men of science who have described, published, but, above all, have prepared and exhibited the noble monuments of creative genius which I have been so fortunate as to discover and make known to the civilized world. My own body will crumble in dust, my soul return to God who gave it, but the works of His hands, those animals of other days, will give joy and pleasure "to generations yet unborn."

Unless you are a super nerd and love paleontology and dinosaurs and rocks, etc. This book is not for you. Unless you want something to help you fall asleep quickly.

I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of this. I was able to borrow one from the WASHU library, a copy-written edition from 1909!!!! This one in particular has been in circulation since March 27, 1951.

With two national days to celebrate dinosaurs (May 15 and June 1) and the new Jurassic World moving coming out this weekend, what a better time to tackle this book.

This book just makes me appreciate paleontologist so much more because, oh my godddd, their jobs are hard!! and rain or shine! ha! I always wanted to "dig up dinosaur bones" since I was a kid and became obsessed with Jurassic Park and dinosaurs. This book is probably the closest thing I will get to a real life experience of doing that so I'm glad I read it.

[Rex Libris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a hidden treasure I found on Project Gutenberg. At the age of 17, in the 1860's, Sternberg decided he wanted to hunt for fossils for a living, and he ended up becoming one of the greatest to ever ply the trade. This book is a great description of both the country and the fossils he discovered during his lifetime.

Thrown in are interesting tidbits of history and everyday life. At one point he had to hide while in the field to avoid the Native Americans returning from the Battle of Little Bighorn.

If you can find this, read it! It is well worth it.

[Les Hopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book, if at times a little repetitive, giving a first hand and vivid account of not only the late 19th Century world of palaeontology but the still 'wild' western parts of the US where the fossils were hunted.

I picked this up after reading the reference to it in the author's note from 'Dragon Teeth' by Michael Crichton. As an insight into the real world in which that story was set it didn't disappoint.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the subject matter was fascinating, this particular edition had multiple spelling errors and his work would refer to figures in the text that were not sited in the book. Would recommend the book, not this edition

[Spurnlad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very old book, downloaded for free at https://archive.org/ Telling the story of fossil-hunting in the west 1860 onwards.

A great look into life in the West as well as informative on the fossil side.

[Rickeclectic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed biographical work by one of the folks who actually did the digging in the first glory days of fossil hunting in the USA. A good read for folks who like the subject, probably tedious for those who don't.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2. I really like the fossil hunting parts, but I can’t rate the book any higher due to his (admitted) cruelty to animals. His excuse for it is disingenuous. He should have stuck to just the fossil hunting memories and explanations of his contributions to science.

[chris harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

S bit dry at times but if your a dinosaur fan this is cool,part about gathering pleaded went a little long

[Mike Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading of this man's scientific adventures in the old west.

[Apriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting but kind of all over the place. Would be interested to see an editor get ahold of this and add more about Sternberg and the “Bone Wars” that were a big part of fossil collecting at the time.

[Audiobook Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouKjN...

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting look back into late 19th Century paleontology. A little dry, would not recommend unless you want tedious depictions of his travels in rock beds of Kansas and Oregon and of the bones he found there.

[Pat Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated, but still very interesting

While it us dated, it is still a fascinating look at how the early fossil hunters endured more hardships that modern ones will ever dream about.