Discovery of a Rare Mammoth Tusk in West Texas

While on a hunting trip in West Texas, a deer hunter stumbled upon a mysterious object in a creek bed. Believing it could be a fossil, he took a photo and shared it with the ranch manager, Will Juett. Juett, however, was initially skeptical, thinking it might just be an old stump. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but imagine the excitement of it being something more significant.

Verification and Investigation

The hunter’s discovery turned out to be accurate, and the finding was more remarkable than anyone could have anticipated. An interdisciplinary team of researchers identified the object as a mammoth tusk, an extremely rare find in West Texas. After seeing the hunter’s photograph, Juett contacted the director of the Center for Big Bend Studies, Bryon Schroeder, and archaeologist Erika Blecha. They, in turn, reached out to Haley Bjorklund, a collaborator and University of Kansas graduate student specializing in environmental archaeology. With the addition of two other anthropologists, the team met at the ranch to investigate the hunter’s find. Upon examination, they quickly confirmed that the specimen was indeed a mammoth tusk.

Recovery and Study

Juett was astonished when the team confirmed their discovery. Unfortunately, the mammoth tusk was isolated, meaning no other mammoth remains were found. Over the course of two days, the team carefully wrapped the tusk in plaster-covered burlap and built a support frame to safely transport it to Sul Ross State University (SRSU). The researchers now plan to study the tusk, including performing radiocarbon dating to estimate when the mammoth lived.

Historical Context

According to Schroeder, a local who wrote his PhD dissertation on a similar find in the 1960s discovered a mammoth tusk in Fort Stockton. This new specimen is currently the only mammoth tusk in Texas’ Trans-Pecos region to have been carbon-dated. With advancements in technology, the team can now obtain a more precise date, narrowing the range to within 500 years. While the statement doesn’t specify the exact mammoth species, the tusk might have belonged to a Columbian mammoth, a distant cousin of the woolly mammoth. These massive animals could reach up to 13 feet in height and weigh around 10 tons.

The Columbian Mammoth and Its Extinction

Columbian mammoths inhabited regions of North America, including modern-day Texas, before going extinct around 11,700 years ago, along with many other Ice Age mammals. The reason behind the disappearance of these iconic megafauna remains a topic of debate among scientists, with climate change and human hunting being potential contributing factors. The discovery of the mammoth tusk serves as a reminder of the ancient world and the massive animals that once roamed the earth.

A Glimpse into the Past

The discovery of the mammoth tusk has had a profound impact on Juett, who can’t help but imagine the huge animal wandering around the hills on the O2 Ranch. He is also reminded of the people who faced these massive creatures with only stone tools in their hands. The find has brought the ancient world to life, providing a unique glimpse into the past and the lives of these incredible animals.