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“We can see how our modern world emerged after the extinction of the dinosaurs by looking at the change in insect communities at that time,” Archibald said. “Fossil sites extending across southern B.C. into northern Washington provide an unusually clear view into how the world began to become modern after the extinction of the dinosaurs — how a change in insect life was a revolutionary change toward modern terrestrial ecosystems.

“We get a clear view of an ecological revolution that did a lot to create our modern world.”

The end of the Eocene, about 35 million years ago, was a time of abrupt climate change. Theories as to what triggered the change include a sudden increase in volcanic eruptions, a series of large meteorite strikes — one of which left a crater 100-kilometres in diameter — and large-scale changes in ocean currents.

But the period is also of great interest because the end of the Eocene was marked by a mass extinction event. One of the largest mammals to exist — Basilosaurus, an ancient eel-like whale with a head like a crocodile — was among of the more notable victims. So were species ranging from large camel-like mammals to marine mollusks.

Archibald was working as a longshoreman when his interest in fossilized insects sent him on a long journey to a PhD in paleo-entomology and work not only at SFU but with the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University and with the Royal British Columbia Museum.

He excavated at the McAbee site and, on the basis of what he found, began arguing tirelessly (and to the profound irritation of some) that it would turn out to be one of the most important paleontological sites in Canada — or anywhere else, for that matter.