What is a Bea tar pits?

La Brea Tar Pits (also commonly called the Tar Pits at La Brea or simply the La Brea Tar Pits) is a group of natural asphalt (also called natural bitumen) pits in the Hancock Park area of the Mid-Wilshire District of Los Angeles, California.

Asphalt:

A dark, viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It is composed of a mixture of hydrocarbons, and is found in natural deposits or can be produced by refining crude oil.

When found near the Earth's surface, either on land or in the ocean, it is often referred to as bitumen which shares many attributes with asphalt.