Sliding Bones: Movement of Skeletal Material Over Smith Creek Playa in Nevada and Its Taphonomic and Paleontologic Implications

In July 2013, a unique type of movement was noted of cattle (Bos taurus) bones across the surface of Smith Creek Valley Playa, in central Nevada. Portions of 3 skeletal elements and 2 sections of articulated elements were found at the ends of shallow, linear, furrow-like trails inscribed in the playa surface. These trails, with their skeletal material, are similar to those produced by the phenomenon described as “racing” or “sailing rocks” that is best documented from Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, California. As has been recently observed for the rocks of Racetrack Playa, the material here was probably moved by a combination of wind acting on ice floating on liquid water. This is the first report of such movement of objects from Smith Creek Playa and represents a previously unreported mechanism for taphonomic transport of skeletal material.