Colossal Discovery in the Creek
In an extraordinary stroke of luck, fossil hunter Eddie Templeton stumbled upon what is being hailed as the largest fossil discovery of his life—a 7-foot-long Columbian mammoth tusk—in a creek in Mississippi. This rare find marks the first intact Columbian mammoth tusk ever uncovered in the state.
A rare find in unlikely territory
Mammoth fossils are an uncommon sight in Mississippi, making Templeton’s discovery all the more remarkable. “I’ve never found any part of a mammoth. I always hoped to find a part of a mammoth, but that’s pretty rare down here,” Templeton shared with the Clarion Ledger.
The Columbian mammoth, a cousin of the more well-known woolly mammoth, was not typically found in this region. Initially, Templeton did not realize the significance of his find. “It didn’t occur to me it could be a mammoth tusk instead of a mastodon tusk until later,” he admitted. Templeton has previously discovered mastodon remains, making his initial confusion understandable.
Scientific validation
It wasn’t until the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s paleontological team examined the tusk that the truth came to light. The tusk, in “amazing condition,” matched the curvature of a Columbian mammoth rather than a mastodon. “This makes it an extremely rare find for Mississippi,” the department stated. They noted that most fossil tusks found in the state are mere fragments and are usually attributed to the more common mastodon.
George Phillips, a paleontologist with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, confirmed the rarity of the find. Mammoth teeth have been the only significant discoveries in the region until now. “We’ve got plenty of mammoth teeth, so a tusk was bound to show up. It’s an impressive find,” he remarked.
Preserving the treasure
The tusk was partially exposed above the marine sediments of the Yazoo Formation. Experts believe the mammoth likely perished near the area, and its remains were later carried away by the stream. To ensure the tusk’s safe removal, it was meticulously wrapped in aluminum foil and encased in a protective jacket made of plaster and burlap strips.
This incredible discovery not only enriches our understanding of prehistoric life in Mississippi but also highlights the state’s potential for future significant paleontological finds.