Oklahoma Native Accidentally Discovers 11,000 Year-Old Mammoth Skull

A bulldozer driver in Oklahoma accidentally stumbled upon what seemed to be the remains of a mammoth, according to the Oklahoma Archaeological Society. The man was operating a bulldozer around a sand pit near Alva, on a regular day at work, when he made the discovery.  

Further excavations on the site in Oklahoma revealed a partial mammoth skull along with two tusks. "We don't know the cause of death. There is no sign that people killed or butchered it," archaeologist Lee Bement said. "Its skull was washed around in the river. The rest of the animal could be anywhere."

The discovery of mammoth remains in the U.S. is not an entirely unusual phenomenon. A mammoth femur was unearthed at the football field of Oregon State University earlier this year. Last year, the remains of a mammoth were found in a soybean field in Michigan by two farmers. In fact, Oklahoma witnesses nearly three discoveries of mammoth every year, according to Bement.

The recently discovery at Oklahoma happens to be the remains of a Columbian mammoth, a species that lived in the area between present day northern United States and Costa Rica, and believed to be among the last in line of the majestic animals. The Columbian type of mammoth, which was also larger than their woolly cousins, roamed around the region along with giant bears, giant sloths, mastodons and other ice age creatures.

The end of the Pleistocene era, around 11,000 years ago, also signaled the end of mammoths. Researchers are still not clear about the exact cause that led to the extinction of the ancient tuskers. Many believe that climate change and hunting by humans may have had definitive roles to play in the future of their survival.

For now, scientists will analyze the teeth of the recently unearthed mammoth in Oklahoma to gain a deeper insight into its food habits, as well as reconstruct the environment of the region when the mammoth lived.