Man finds gigantic mammoth tusk in a Mississippi creek

A significant discovery was made in rural Mississippi by a fossil collector who found the state’s first confirmed mammoth tusk. However, recovering this rare specimen presented many challenges.

While woolly mammoths and mastodons are well-known, the Columbian mammoth was actually the largest elephant ancestor to roam North America. Standing nearly 14-feet-tall and weighing around 10 tons, these ice age giants went extinct around 12,700 BCE. Although rare in Mississippi, evidence of mammoths has been found, including fossilized teeth. Recently, Eddie Templeton’s discovery of a tusk in rural Madison shed new light on the presence of these ancient creatures in the region.

Templeton’s discovery of the tusk, suspected to be from a Columbian mammoth, prompted further investigation by the Mississippi State Geological Survey. With careful excavation, a fully intact 7-foot-long tusk was revealed, providing valuable insights into the ancient creature’s presence in the area.

A race against time and elements

The team had to work quickly to protect the tusk from Mississippi’s harsh sun, which could damage it. Careful excavation and preparation, including covering the tusk in aluminum foil and encasing it in plaster, allowed for its safe transport to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science for further study.

[Related: Woolly mammoth ‘jerky’ preserves 52,000-year-old fossil chromosomes.]

Overcoming challenges such as transporting the heavy ivory up a steep bluff, the team successfully secured the tusk for study and preservation. This discovery of the Columbian mammoth tusk in Mississippi is a significant paleontological find that sheds light on the region’s prehistoric past.

The tusk’s new home at the museum is a fitting tribute to the ancient giant and its role in the local ecosystem.

“These colossal mammals played an important role in maintaining the rich fertile prairie ecosystem, much as their modern elephant relatives do in other parts of the world today,” said MDEQ representatives.