A few miles north of Fairbanks, a gold miner named John Reeves has been digging up something far more valuable than gold. Woolly mammoth tusks. Saber-tooth tiger bones. Ancient camels. Steppe bison mummified so perfectly that researchers stewed and ate the meat. A collection of Ice Age remains so significant that paleontologists from around the world have made the trip to rural Alaska just to see it.
Boneyard Alaska is the documentary that chronicles Reeves’s excavation — and it’s one of the more genuinely fascinating Alaska stories we’ve come across. My son is obsessed with dinosaurs and kept asking why we hadn’t covered dinos in Alaska yet. This article is the answer. We ended up going much deeper than we planned.
Quick Boneyard Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | North of Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Excavator | John Reeves, gold miner |
| Site name | Boneyard Alaska |
| Specimens collected | 100,000+ |
| Star species | Woolly mammoth |
| Other species found | Steppe bison, saber-tooth, mastodon, short-faced bear, cave lion, camel |
| Documentary title | Boneyard Alaska (2022) |
| Director | Paul Andrew Lawrence |
| Runtime | 74 minutes |
| Where to watch | Amazon — $3.99 rental |
| Joe Rogan episode | Yes — sparked East River tusk diving story |
My Experience With Boneyard Alaska
My son is obsessed with dinosaurs. He recently asked me why I hadn’t written anything about dinosaurs in Alaska for AlaskaExplored.com. It was a good question and one I hope to rectify soon when writing about the dinosaurs found on the North Slope. While researching dinosaurs in Alaska, I came across Boneyard Alaska. A documentary showcasing an archeological dig north of Fairbanks referred to as Boneyard Alaska. We watched the documentary and were surprised by what we saw. The movie chronicles John Reeves’s passion for excavating prehistoric bones on his Alaska property.
While the Alaska Boneyard has no dinosaur bones, the movie, and the place do not disappoint. John Reeves has unearthed a massive collection of mammoth tusks, bones, and other unexpected species. If you’re interested in paleontology, woolly mammoths, or ever dreamed of what a real-life Indiana Jones adventure would be like, keep reading, and we’ll tell you all about the film and where to see it!
What Is Boneyard Alaska?
Approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, the Earth experienced an Ice Age. Alaska’s geography and climate changed dramatically along with the rest of the planet. Ice sheets covered much of the landscape, shaping the terrain and creating a harsh environment.
During the peak of the Ice Age, the Bering Land Bridge emerged, connecting Alaska to Siberia. The land bridge provided a crucial corridor for the migration of various species, including the woolly mammoth. Those mammoths — and dozens of other species — eventually died, and Alaska’s permafrost preserved their remains with extraordinary fidelity. Bones. Tusks. Hair. Skin. Stomach contents. Frozen in place for tens of thousands of years.
John Reeves is a gold miner who has been working property north of Fairbanks for decades. Using a water hose to excavate the permafrost — a technique borrowed directly from gold mining — he began unearthing prehistoric bones in quantities that shocked the scientific community. Over 100,000 specimens and counting. His property has been described by paleontologists as one of the most significant Ice Age fossil sites in North America.
The reason such a massive concentration of specimens ended up in one place remains a mystery. Scientists have theories — natural traps, river confluences, ancient watering holes — but nothing conclusive. John Reeves calls them his treasures. Paleontologists largely agree.
Who Is John Reeves?
John Reeves is a third-generation Alaskan gold miner who has been working claims north of Fairbanks for decades. He’s not a scientist or an academic — he’s a miner who started noticing that the permafrost on his property was yielding something far more interesting than gold. His excavation method is straightforward: high-pressure water hoses blast through the frozen ground, the same technique used in placer gold mining.
What sets Reeves apart isn’t the method — it’s the obsession. He has dedicated years and significant personal resources to documenting, cataloging, and preserving what he finds. Scientists who visit the Boneyard describe him as meticulous, passionate, and genuinely knowledgeable about what he’s uncovering. He refers to the bones as his treasures. After watching the documentary and reading about his work, it’s hard to disagree.
What Are They Finding in Boneyard Alaska?
Many treasures have been unearthed on Reeve’s property and are highlighted in the film Boneyard Alaska. The wooly mammoth may be the star of the show, but they’ve excavated several other species as well:
Woolly Mammoth
An extinct species that lived during the Pleistocene until its extinction in the Holocene epoch — roughly 10,000 years ago, though isolated populations survived on Wrangel Island until about 4,000 years ago. Woolly mammoths were one of the last in a line of mammoth species beginning with the African Mammuthus subplanifrons in the early Pliocene. In Alaska, permafrost preservation has produced extraordinary specimens — some with intact hair, skin, and soft tissue.
A woolly mammoth tusk uncovered at the Boneyard was part of an animal that walked the earth 23,000 years before the first pyramid was built. That number is worth sitting with for a moment.
Saber-Tooth Tigers
Smilodon — commonly known as the saber-toothed tiger — was not actually closely related to tigers or modern cats. It belonged to the extinct subfamily Machairodontinae and was one of the most recognizable large predators of the Pleistocene. The discovery of saber-tooth remains at the Boneyard puts a genuine apex predator in the same ecosystem as the mammoths, bison, and camels.
Short Face Bears
Arctodus — the short-faced bear — was one of the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivores that ever lived. The giant short-faced bear stood nearly six feet at the shoulder and could weigh over 2,000 pounds. It inhabited North America during the Pleistocene and was likely a significant predator and scavenger in the same ecosystem as the mammoths and bison at the Boneyard.
Steppe Bison
An extinct species of bison once found across the mammoth steppe. Similar to modern bison but with significantly larger horns. The most famous Alaskan steppe bison specimen isn’t from the Boneyard — it’s Blue Babe, discovered north of Fairbanks in 1979 by a gold miner, and now on display at the University of Alaska Museum of the North.
The Blue Babe story deserves its own paragraph. Researchers at the university prepared the mummified bison for display — and before mounting it, removed a piece of mummified neck flesh, stewed it with vegetables, and ate it. They reported it tasted acceptable, though with a slightly gamey, musky flavor. It is one of the more remarkable footnotes in Alaska paleontology.
Cave Lion
Panthera spelaea — the cave lion or steppe lion — is an extinct Panthera species that evolved in Europe and spread across the northern latitudes including Alaska. It was roughly the size of a modern lion, possibly larger. Cave lion remains have been found in Alaska permafrost with remarkable preservation — including, in other Siberian sites, specimens with intact fur and facial features.
Mastodon
Mastodons inhabited North and Central America from the late Miocene until their extinction around 10,000 to 11,000 years ago. They’re related to elephants but diverged from the elephant lineage at least 25 million years ago — making them distinct from mammoths despite the superficial resemblance. Finding mastodon remains alongside mammoth remains at the same site underscores just how rich the Boneyard ecosystem once was.
Camel
Yeah, this one surprises everyone. Fossil evidence from Alaska and the Yukon confirms that western camels migrated north during a warm interglacial period of the last Ice Age. When the Bering Land Bridge flooded, they were cut off from Siberia and eventually went extinct in North America. Here’s the part most people don’t know: camels actually originated in North America before migrating to Asia and Africa. Alaska was part of their original range. The camel you picture in the Sahara has Alaskan ancestors.
Other Prehistoric Alaska Finds
The Boneyard is exceptional but it’s not the only place prehistoric Alaska reveals itself. Here are a few other significant finds worth knowing about:
Blue Babe at the UAF Museum of the North
Already mentioned above — but worth noting that Blue Babe is on public display at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks. It’s one of the best natural history museums in the state and the closest you can get to the Boneyard experience in a public setting. If you’re visiting Fairbanks, it’s worth your time.
North Slope Dinosaurs
Alaska’s North Slope has produced some of the most significant dinosaur fossil finds in North America. Hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and other Cretaceous species have been excavated along the Colville River. These are 65-75 million years old — far older than the Ice Age mammals at the Boneyard — and represent a completely different chapter of Alaska’s prehistoric story.
Fairbanks Mammoth Finds
The permafrost around Fairbanks has been producing mammoth remains for over a century — mostly through gold mining operations that cut through frozen ground. Reeves’s Boneyard is the most concentrated and documented site, but isolated finds of tusks, teeth, and bones have turned up throughout the Interior for decades. Gold miners in Alaska have a long history of being accidental paleontologists.
Wrangel Island Mammoths
Not Alaska — but relevant. The last woolly mammoths on earth survived on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean until approximately 4,000 years ago. The Egyptian pyramids were already standing when the last mammoths died. That timeline is genuinely difficult to process.
Can You Visit Boneyard Alaska?
The short answer is no. The Boneyard is on John Reeves’s private property and is not open to the public. It’s an active excavation site, not a tourist attraction.
The best alternatives if you want to experience prehistoric Alaska in person:
University of Alaska Museum of the North — Fairbanks
The closest public option. Blue Babe the steppe bison is on display, along with significant mammoth specimens and an excellent natural history collection. The museum is on the UAF campus and is open to the public. If you’re making the trip to Fairbanks, this is the stop.
Anchorage Museum
The Anchorage Museum has Alaska natural history collections worth seeing, though the prehistoric focus is less concentrated than the UAF Museum.
Watch the Documentary
Honestly the best way to experience the Boneyard itself. Rent it on Amazon for $3.99. It’s 74 minutes, and John Reeves gives you full access to the site and his collection on screen.
Boneyard Alaska: The Movie
Paul Andrew Lawrence produced Boneyard Alaska in 2022. The film promotes itself with this slug line: An Alaskan gold miner is unearthing a treasure trove of perfectly preserved bones tens of thousands of years old. What Ice Age secrets lie beneath the permafrost, waiting to be discovered?
John Reeves discussed Paul Lawrence’s filming on his property on the Joe Rogan Podcast. He explains that he gave the filmmaker complete access to Boneyard Alaska, and the work done there. Reeves refers to the filmmaker as a true artist.
In the film, you get to see John Reeves’s process to unearth the artifacts. You also get a glimpse of the massive collection of bones accumulated over the years. The film follows a group of researchers as they explore Boneyard Alaska. The scientists are like kids in a candy store for most of the film. They have traveled worldwide to see the Boneyard and are all intrigued by the findings.
Where to Watch: Available on Amazon for $3.99. Check the trailer above before you rent.
Boneyard Alaska on the Joe Rogan Experience
John Reeves appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience and the episode brought significant new attention to both the film and the excavation. It’s worth watching alongside the documentary for Reeves’s unfiltered enthusiasm about what he’s finding.
The East River Tusk Story
On a recent appearance on The Joe Rogen Experience, John Reeves mentioned a possibility that the American Museum of Natural History had dumped mammoth tusks in New York’s East River. This story snowballed on the internet and finally reached the pages of the Daily Mail Newspaper in London. The Daily Mail published a misleading account of Reeve’s interview, it stated that there is potentially $1 billion worth of tusks to be found in the East River.
All the story’s traction led people to scuba dive into the East River in search of the sunken treasure. The Anchorage Daily News did a great job chronicling the story and explaining how it progressed into a real-life safety concern for the Coast Guard working the waters. The East River is a busy waterway, and scuba diving in the area requires a special permit.
Books Worth Reading
If the Boneyard Alaska story sent you down a rabbit hole — which it tends to do — here are a few books worth picking up:
- After the Ice: A Global Human History 20,000-5000 BC by Steven Mithen — the best accessible overview of the world the Boneyard animals lived in.
- Mammoths: Giants of the Ice Age by Adrian Lister — the definitive popular science book on woolly mammoths, well illustrated.
- The Ice at the End of the World by Jon Gertner — not specifically about Alaska but covers permafrost and what it’s revealing as it thaws, directly relevant to finds like the Boneyard.
- Rockhounding in Alaska – Mineral and rare rock hunting guide to Alaska.
Conclusion: Go Watch Boneyard Alaska
John Reeve’s Boneyard outside Fairbanks, Alaska, is described by paleontologists as an exceptional find, with a remarkable quantity of well-preserved bones. The Alaska Boneyard may hold much historical and scientific data for researchers to explore, but it also raises many questions. As of now, the reason why there is such a significant accumulation of Ice Age bones at this single site remains a mystery.
Throughout Boneyard Alaska, John Reeves refers to the bones as his treasures. I couldn’t agree more after watching the film and reading about his discoveries. In the film, Reeves talks about a tusk he uncovered a few days prior. He explains that the tusk was part of a woolly mammoth that walked the earth 23,000 years before the first pyramid was built. That humbling notion is one of many that make Boneyard Alaska so fascinating, and it explains why the film and the work being done outside Fairbanks are resonating with so many viewers online.
Boneyard Alaska FAQs
What is Boneyard Alaska?
Boneyard Alaska is both a real excavation site and a documentary film. The site is located north of Fairbanks on property owned by gold miner John Reeves, who has unearthed over 100,000 prehistoric specimens including woolly mammoth tusks, steppe bison, saber-tooth tiger remains, mastodons, short-faced bears, cave lions, and ancient camels. The 2022 documentary produced by Paul Andrew Lawrence chronicles Reeves’s excavations and the scientists who travel to study his finds.
Where is Boneyard Alaska located?
The Boneyard is located a few miles north of Fairbanks on John Reeves’s private property. It’s not a public attraction — it’s an active excavation site on private land. The documentary is the best way to experience it.
Where can I watch the Boneyard Alaska documentary?
The film is available to rent on Amazon for $3.99. It runs 74 minutes. John Reeves also appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience which brought significant new attention to the film and the excavation.
Did woolly mammoths really live in Alaska?
Yes — Alaska was prime woolly mammoth habitat during the Pleistocene. The Bering Land Bridge connected Alaska to Siberia and allowed mammoths to migrate across. Alaska’s permafrost has preserved mammoth remains extraordinarily well — some specimens found in Alaska retain soft tissue, hair, and even stomach contents. The Boneyard site is exceptional for the sheer density and quality of preservation.
How did John Reeves find so many bones?
Reeves uses a water hose to excavate the permafrost on his property, a technique borrowed from gold mining. The permafrost has acted as a natural deep freeze for tens of thousands of years, preserving bones that would otherwise have decomposed. The concentration of specimens at his site is unusually high — paleontologists believe the site may have been a natural trap or congregation point during the Ice Age, though the exact reason remains a mystery.
What is the most valuable find at Boneyard Alaska?
Woolly mammoth tusks are the most commercially valuable specimens — ivory from legally excavated mammoth tusks can sell for significant sums. Scientifically, the density and variety of species found at a single site makes the entire collection exceptional. John Reeves has referred to the bones as his treasures — and paleontologists largely agree.
What is the East River tusk story?
On the Joe Rogan Experience, John Reeves mentioned a possibility that the American Museum of Natural History had dumped mammoth tusks into New York’s East River decades ago. The story went viral, was picked up by the Daily Mail, and prompted people to actually scuba dive into the East River looking for the tusks. The Coast Guard got involved due to safety concerns. The Anchorage Daily News did the best reporting on how the story spiraled.
Are there dinosaur bones in Alaska?
Yes — though not at the Boneyard site. Dinosaur fossils have been found on Alaska’s North Slope, including hadrosaurs and other Cretaceous species. The Boneyard is Ice Age — roughly 10,000 to 2.6 million years old — not dinosaur era. We’ll cover Alaska’s dinosaur fossils in a separate article.
What happened to Blue Babe?
Blue Babe is a steppe bison mummified by permafrost and discovered by a gold miner north of Fairbanks in 1979. Researchers at the University of Alaska prepared it for display — and before mounting it, removed a piece of neck flesh, stewed it, and ate it. It’s on display at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks. Worth seeing in person if you’re in town.
Were there really camels in Alaska?
Yes. And it surprises almost everyone. Fossil evidence from Alaska and the Yukon shows that western camels migrated north during a warm interglacial period of the last Ice Age. When the Bering Land Bridge flooded, they were cut off from their Siberian cousins and eventually went extinct in North America. Camels actually originated in North America before migrating to Asia and Africa — Alaska was part of their range.
More Alaska Wildlife & Culture Guides
- Alaska Photography & Filming Hub — all our filming and production guides
- 100 Fun Facts About Alaska — more wild Alaska history and trivia
- Famous People From Alaska — notable Alaskans including TV personalities
- Breweries in Fairbanks — what to do while you’re in the area
- Best Places to Live in Alaska — Fairbanks section included
- Black Bear vs Grizzly Bear — Alaska’s current apex predators
- Filming in Alaska — how TV gets made in the Last Frontier