Imagine you are taking a walk through rural Madison County, Mississippi, and stumble on a massive tusk that turns out to belong to a Colombian mammoth. This is exactly what happened to Eddie Templeton, an amateur fossil collector, earlier in August. Not only did he discover an almost complete Colombian mammoth tusk, but it is also the first confirmed finding of the species in the area!
The Search
Eddie went on a walk to survey an area he hadn’t covered in some time and was quite discouraged by the amount of water in the creek that day. Nonetheless, he continued to search the area – a great choice! As it was on this walk that he laid eyes on a tusk sticking out along the cliff of the stream, partially covered in water and stuck into the clay and slit of the streambed.
Excavation
The amateur fossil collector then contacted the MDEQ’s (Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality) Mississippi State Geological Survey to come and see what he found. The MDEQ knew that they had no time to waste if they wanted to collect the ancient fossil, as even one afternoon in Mississippi’s hot August sun could ruin the finding.
Almost Perfect
Even though the tusk is broken in the middle and has a couple of cracks here and there, the MDEQ claims that this is one of the most complete tusks they have ever encountered. This almost completely intact fossil is a rare find as tusks generally don’t preserve well in the area.
Careful Extraction
Eddie, along with the paleontological team spent the entire day carefully removing the clay around the tusk by hand. After the extraction, they took a couple of photographs of the fossil before covering it with aluminum foil and covering it with a plaster jacket. This was done to ensure that the tusk was unharmed during its removal and travel.
The First
After the scientists studied the 7-foot 600-pound ivory tusk, they confirmed that it belonged to a Columbian mammoth, scientifically known as Mammuthus columbi. Eddie was elated to hear that this tusk belonged to a mammoth and not a mastodon, which is more commonly found in the area. Not only did he achieve his dream of one day finding a mammoth fossil, but also found the first one in the area!
More Common Fossils
American Mastodon, Mammut americanum, fossils are more commonly found around Mississippi. This might be explained by their diet, which included a wide variety of plants allowing them to live in a variety of different environments. The Colombian mammoth, on the other hand, had a more picky diet, and only preferred certain plants, limiting them to smaller regions. Making this first confirmed mammoth finding in the area extraordinary.
The Colombian Mammoth
Colombian mammoths roamed North America during the last Ice Age and became extinct around 13,000 years ago. These ancient creatures reached about 14 feet at the shoulders and weighed around 13 tons, making them one of the largest mammoth species to roam our planet. It is debated whether these massive animals became extinct due to climate change, human hunting, or a combination of the two.
Close Relatives
After the Colombian Mammoths became extinct, their close relatives the Woolly mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius roamed the earth for about another 6,000 years. These mammoths were smaller than their Colombian cousins and the last of this species is thought to have gone extinct about 4,000 years ago.
Significance of the Mammoth Tusk
The discovery of the first confirmed Colombian mammoth tusk in Mississippi shows not only the history of the land but could be an indication of many other such fossils hiding away throughout the state. A fact that excites scientists in the field around the world! This finding will also be a massive help to experts as they’re drawing up a new geological map of Mississippi many years ago.
Fossil Rich Area
Mississippi has a rich fossil history, packed with discoveries that take us back millions of years. The state is known for marine fossils like ancient sharks, mosasaurs, and even prehistoric whales, which tell the story of a time when the area was underwater. Sites like the Yazoo Clay and Coon Creek formations have become hotspots for fossil hunters, revealing everything from fish and mollusks to Ice Age mammals like mastodons
Last Thoughts
Eddie’s discovery of this massive 7-foot 600-pound Colombian mammoth tusk, the first of its kind in the area, is no small feat! The finding excites fossil lovers, historians, and scientists alike around the world while making curious minds wonder, what will be found next?
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