Just outside of the small city of Waco, Texas, paleontologists have uncovered what may some call an elephant graveyard at Waco Mammoth National Monument. It is the largest concentration of mammoth fossils known, and was declared a National Monument in 2015.
Discovery of the Mammoths
In 1978, a couple of ranch hands were out looking for arrowheads along a small river. What they found was a bone protruding out of the bank. It belonged to a Columbian mammoth. They took the bone to the Strecker Museum at Baylor University. A dig was started that unearthed the remains of a nursing herd of 16 mammoths. A later dig discovered more mammoth fossils and remains of a prehistoric camel and sabretooth cat. The discovered that the animals were deposited at the location during several recurring events, most likely flash flooding.
Columbian Mammoths
Columbian mammoths are not wooly mammoths, though they were covered in hair like their contemporary cousins. The difference between the two species is like that between the Asian and African elephants of today. Columbian mammoths were larger with much larger tusks. They were the largest of the mammoth species being 13-15 feet tall.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
Upon receiving monument status, the site also forged a partnership with the National Park Service. This partnership will allow for further exploration of the site and more research on the invaluable collection of Pleistocene fossils.
A visit to the site starts at a small visitor center. Just outside is a tent space where tours begin. This is also where some hands-on activities can be found. I picked myself up a Junior Ranger book and did several of the activities during my visit. To visit the fossils, you must be with a guide or ranger. They lead guests down the paved trail to the large structure protecting the dig site. It reminded me a lot of the enclosure at Dinosaur National Monument.
Inside, you see bones from a family of mammoths in situ. The guide explains the excavation process and what you’re seeing, which is layers of excavation showing thousands of years of history. Our guide, a ranger, gave some great insight into why so many mammoths may have died here and what we were seeing.
The building has a raised walkway that allows for visitors to look down on the dig site. A large mural is suspended above depicting what scientists believe may have happened during a flash flood with a herd of mammoths. There is also a life-size painting of a Columbian mammoth to get an idea of how big they were and what they looked like.
I’m glad I got to visit this fascinating place now. I’m excited to see what may come of it in the future after they do more excavations. Until then, adventure is out there, so go have one!
