ABSTRACT On this one-day field trip, we will explore the profound scientific discoveries offered by the well-preserved fossil deposits in La Brea Tar Pits, California, USA. We will examine the complex late Quaternary ecosystems of southern California. Predators, like the saber-toothed cat, and large megafauna, like the Columbian mammoth, have provided ample data about mammal behavior over the last 50 thousand years. During the trip, we will explore the ongoing excavation and discuss various methodologies. Among other topics, we will decipher biodiversity, extinction patterns, and ecological interdependencies during prehistoric eras. We will also look at the significance and the implications for future scientific discovery.