A deer hunter in West Texas stumbles upon a fossilized mammoth tusk while hunting on a historic 272,000-acre ranch, sparking excitement among archaeologists. Initially dismissed as an old stump, the find was confirmed as an isolated tusk following examination by experts, including a team from Sul Ross State University and the University of Kansas, who are now working to carbon date the tusk to narrow down its age to a 500-year range.
The discovery highlights Texas’s rich prehistoric past, as mammoths once roamed the region, particularly the Columbian variety, which could weigh up to 20,000 pounds. This discovery adds to the region’s archaeological significance, known for sites like the Waco Mammoth National Monument, and invites contemplation about the ancient interactions between these massive creatures and early humans, as noted by ranch manager Will Juett.
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