Ancient Ice Age Mammoth and Bison Fossils Uncovered at Construction Site in California

Fossils that are more than 20,000 years old have been discovered at a construction site in Carlsbad, Calif., where more than 600 houses are set to be built. Now, scientists are taking a closer look at the fossils, and found that one of them is of a massive woolly mammoth.

"It's really an exciting project in terms of the geology and paleontology," said Tom Demere, curator of paleontology at the Sand Diego Natural History Museum, in an interview with The San Diego Tribune. "They are direct connections with the past, an ancient ecosystem that was once common here. We can understand how climates can change by studying these ancient ecosystems."

The fossils were actually discovered in July. Since then, researchers have worked to look at all of the fossils in the area to see which might have lived during the Pleistocene Epoch or the last Ice Age. In all, the researchers found dozens of fossils, including Columbian Mammoth, horses, turtles and a bison.

While the fossils are certainly older than 20,000 years, they could well be as old as 50,000 to 200,000 years.

Currently, the researchers are examining the fossils and combing the area for any other fossils that may be at the site.

Construction on the site should re-begin early next year, which is when the homes will be built in the first of six "neighborhoods." The first apartments should be ready by the end of 2016.

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