Unearthing History: North Dakota Coal Miners Find Ancient Mammoth Tusk

Photo byJack Dura

In a surprising turn of events at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, North Dakota, an extraordinary discovery emerged from the earth’s depths during routine mining operations. The unearthing of a 7-foot mammoth tusk, tucked away in an ancient streambed approximately 40 feet deep, stunned the mining crew and became a significant archaeological find.

The unexpected find occurred when a vigilant shovel operator, toiling through the night shift, glimpsed a glint of white within a massive mound of excavated dirt. This unusual sighting prompted a closer inspection by a dozer driver after the truck driver unloaded the dirt. It was then that the miners realized the exceptional nature of their discovery—a mammoth tusk concealed for thousands of years beneath the earth’s surface.

David Straley, a North American coal executive overseeing the mine, expressed the team's astonishment and gratitude for the fortunate discovery, recognizing the rarity of such an occurrence. Experts were swiftly called in, halting the excavation in that particular area as the significance of this ancient artifact became apparent.

Upon examination by paleontologists, including Jeff Person from the North Dakota Geologic Survey, the mammoth tusk's estimated age ranged between 10,000 and 100,000 years old. The preservation of the tusk, relatively unscathed despite the colossal equipment used at the site, astounded experts, who described it as a miraculous find.

Further exploration at the site led to the uncovering of more than 20 bones, including a shoulder blade, ribs, a tooth, and parts of the hips. Although not a complete mammoth skeleton, this collection of associated bones stands as one of the most comprehensive finds in North Dakota. In a region where singular mammoth bones, teeth, or tusk fragments are more common discoveries, this assemblage holds immense scientific value.

Mammoths, colossal creatures larger than contemporary elephants and adorned in thick woolly coats, once roamed across various continents, including parts of North America. Paul Ullmann, a University of North Dakota vertebrate paleontologist, highlighted the rarity of such discoveries in the region due to the destruction of many Ice Age animal remains by glaciers and shifting ice sheets.

The mammoth's fragility, exemplified by the ivory tusk weighing more than 50 pounds, necessitates careful preservation. The paleontologists have taken precautions by wrapping the tusk and other bones in plastic to control dehydration, aiming to prevent damage and potential breakage.

The mining company plans to donate these ancient remains to the state for educational purposes, particularly to enrich the learning experiences of young minds. North Dakota's remarkable fossil record, ranging from dinosaurs to mammoths, owes its richness to a landscape primed for preserving bones and fossils over millions of years.

The state's fertile ground for fossils, nourished by low-elevation and ecologically abundant past environments, coupled with geographical factors conducive to preserving remains, continues to unveil glimpses into our ancient natural history. North Dakota stands as a treasure trove of paleontological wonders, offering insights into life's evolution over millions of years and destined to captivate and educate generations to come.