Two Acres of Time

Richard S. Laub tells the story of the Byron Dig, an astonishingly rich trove of fossils and artifacts. Recounting twenty-nine years of intensive excavation involving more than a thousand participants, he provides a comprehensive account of a working paleontological and archaeological field project.

Richard S. Laub served as curator of geology at the Buffalo Museum of Science from 1973 to 2011, during which time he did occasional teaching at the University of Buffalo. He initiated and directed the Hiscock Site project from 1983 to 2011.

Russell Graham, adjunct research associate, Colorado School of Mines, and adjunct curator, University of Colorado, Boulder:
Two Acres of Time is an outstanding account of the excavation and analysis of Ice Age fossils from the extraordinary Hiscock Site. Laub clearly documents how the scientific process works and offers insights into the human dimensions of research. Reading the book is like being at the site and experiencing the thrill of discovery!

Jonathan Lothrop, curator of archaeology, New York State Museum:
Laub very effectively conveys to a general audience how scientists investigate paleontological sites, including the development of research questions, field methodologies (such as in-field stabilization of fossil specimens), and laboratory methods for specimen conservation and analysis. In an age where scientists and scientific findings are often questioned, Two Acres of Time is especially timely because it demonstrates to the public how scholars conduct natural history research, particularly how they develop and sometimes revise conclusions through long-term investigations.

David W. Steadman, emeritus curator, Florida Museum of Natural History:
The world in general, and Western New York State in particular, are better places because of Richard Laub. For twenty-nine summers, he tirelessly led the excavations at the Hiscock Site, one of North America’s most important archaeological and paleontological localities. Laub was doing productive and highly educational ‘citizen science’ at the Byron Dig well before citizen science became a mainstream activity. He also worked open-mindedly alongside scientists of all sorts. As he describes in this alluring book, we now know an awful lot more about the plants, animals, and people that once lived in Western New York. And a fine time was had along the way.

Robert Feranec, director of research and collections, New York State Museum:
It’s not shovels and screens that make the dig, it’s the people. Two Acres of Time provides critical knowledge of an important site in New York State and offers an honest perspective of what a dig is like, highlighting the people involved.