GRAY, Tenn. — When you think ancient fossils, you probably think about exotic countries, like Argentina or South Africa. But what about east Tennessee? Gray, Tenn., just so happens to be home to one of the nation’s richest archeological finds, producing some bone specimens that are 7 million years old. No pricey plane tickets needed. This site is just a couple of hours away.

Near Johnson City, Tenn. along Interstate 81, you’ll see the exit for Gray, on State Route 75. After a few miles of rolling fields, sparse housing, and the occasional business, you’ll come upon a giant brick building on the side of a carved out hill.

East Tenn. State University dedicated funding to the Gray Fossil Site by creating the ETSU Natural History Museum, along with sponsor General Shale Brick. The visitor’s center, museum, and laboratory serve as a hub for tourists and researchers alike.

The site covers more than five acres located along State Route 75. The Miocene site is dated at 4.5 to 7 million years old, containing fossilized remains of an entire ecosystem of plants and animals. A series of sinkholes, formed from a collapsed cave, created a watering hole that drew animals from near and far. For some unlucky animals, the sinkhole became a trap that preserved them as fossils for the ages.

According to my tour guide at the museum, less than 2 percent of the site has been excavated. Already, thousands of fossil specimens have already been recovered including the saber-toothed cat, short-faced bear, ground sloth, rhino, alligator, camel, shovel-tusked elephant, and Eurasian badger. The Gray Fossil Site also has the world’s largest collection of fossil tapirs, and the world’s only near-complete fossil red panda.

The site wasn’t always so clearly marked, however.

The discover came by sheer luck during a road construction project. According to Martin Kohl at the Tennessee Division of Geology, the “unusual” geology of the site was first discovered by a Department of Transportation geologist during a realignment and widening of State Route 75.

“No one in his office or on the construction crews had seen anything like it anywhere in the region,” said Kohl on the Tenn. Division of Geology website.

The discovery led to some digging and soon scientists were uncovering many fossils millions of years old. The site has been dubbed the most significant Miocene Age find in North America.

Tourists can explore everything the museum and site has to offer with the All-Access Pass, which go for $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $7 for kids 5-12 years old. With that pass, visitors can tour the museum and see fully-reconstructed animals dug up from the site, tour and see up close the actual dig site, and get a peek at the labs where bones are examined for hours. For children, there are hand-on activities available, including looking for fossils in a sifter.

The museum is open daily, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers many educational and outreach programs, activities, and special lectures, as well as new temporary exhibits each season,

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.