Coal miners in North Dakota have uncovered what is being described as ‘one of the most complete’ mammoth skeletons ever found

In the U.S. state of North Dakota, coal miners have made a remarkable discovery – a rare and ancient mammoth fossil. The significant find occurred earlier this year when they unearthed a well-preserved, seven-foot-long tusk.

This discovery is noteworthy in North Dakota, a region historically inhabited by mammoths since the Ice Age. However, this particular find is unique due to its completeness, a first for the state.

Clint Boyd, a senior paleontologist for the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS), noted that most mammoth fossils found in the state typically consist of isolated bones and teeth. The recent find, being one of the most complete mammoth skeletons unearthed in the area, is both exciting and of great scientific importance.

The fossil was discovered at the Freedom Mine near Beulah during the Memorial Day weekend, as announced by the NDGS. A team led by NDGS paleontologists recovered over 20 bones from the mammoth skeleton, including ribs, a shoulder blade, a tooth, and parts of the hips. The excavation process, which took 12 days, involved careful work in an old streambed where the skeleton lay buried.

Once safely extracted and encased in protective plaster jackets, the bones were moved to the Paleontology Lab at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck. The next phase involves meticulously cleaning the bones and removing attached sediment, a delicate process that demands precision.

Upon completion of the cleaning, paleontologists will be able to determine the specific species of the mammoth.

Meanwhile, the NDGS and the Freedom Mine staff are collaborating to create an educational outreach program featuring the fossils. The aim is to educate a broad audience about the fossil and its significance in understanding life in North Dakota during the Ice Age.

Mammoths, which inhabited North Dakota during the Pleistocene Epoch or the Ice Age, became extinct around 10,000 years ago. North America was home to various species of mammoths, such as the Woolly Mammoth and the Columbian Mammoth, which coexisted with other prehistoric creatures like saber-toothed tigers and giant sloths.