{"product_id":"woolly-mammoth-tusk-fossil-fragment-alaskan-ice-age-specimen","title":"Woolly Mammoth Tusk Fossil Fragment – Alaskan Ice Age Specimen","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis authentic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWoolly Mammoth tusk fossil fragment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a distinctive section of ancient tusk recovered from a gravel bar in Alaska's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTanana River Valley\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Measuring 86mm in length, this elongated specimen displays a weathered brown and grey outer surface with fine longitudinal texture, while the exposed interior reveals the warm cream and golden tones of fossilized tusk material. Its natural shape, contrasting surfaces and subtle mineral staining make it a fascinating piece of Ice Age history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecimen Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFossil:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Woolly Mammoth tusk, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMammuthus primigenius\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecimen:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e S975\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocality:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Tanana River Valley, Alaska, USA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeological Age:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Pleistocene Epoch \/ Ice Age\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fossil mammoth tusk \/ fossil ivory\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Naturally weathered and fragmented\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 37mm x 86mm x 12mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 44 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Woolly Mammoth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Woolly Mammoth (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMammuthus primigenius\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) was one of the most iconic animals of the Pleistocene Epoch. Closely related to modern elephants, it was specially adapted to life in cold northern environments. Its thick coat, dense underfur and insulating body fat helped it survive the harsh conditions of the Ice Age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlaska formed part of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeringia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the vast Ice Age landscape that once connected Alaska and Siberia. Much of this region remained ice-free and supported extensive grasslands where mammoths, horses, bison and other Ice Age animals lived.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs the Ice Age ended, the climate became warmer and wetter, changing the mammoth-steppe environment and reducing the grasslands on which mammoths depended. Human activity may also have contributed to their decline. Most mainland Woolly Mammoths disappeared around 10,000 years ago, although isolated populations survived for thousands of years longer. The last known Woolly Mammoths lived on Wrangel Island until approximately 4,000 years ago.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy Are Mammoth Tusks Often Broken and Split?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComplete mammoth tusks are much less commonly found than fragments. After a mammoth died, its tusks could remain buried for thousands of years, exposed to pressure, moisture, mineral changes and repeated freezing and thawing. Over time, these processes can create weaknesses and enlarge existing cracks within the fossilized dentine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRiver systems can add further wear. As Alaskan rivers erode ancient sediments and permafrost, buried mammoth remains become exposed and can be moved through gravel deposits. Contact with rocks and gravel can cause already-fractured tusks to break into sections.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe broken and weathered appearance of this specimen is therefore part of its story. The contrasting outer surface and exposed interior provide a glimpse of the structure of an ancient mammoth tusk and its long journey from an Ice Age animal to a fossil recovered from the Tanana River Valley.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ForeverGems_Tuc26","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46516808548548,"sku":"S975","price":140.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/1599\/4699\/files\/S975WoollyMammothTusk_1.webp?v=1786633307","url":"https:\/\/www.forevergems.co.za\/products\/woolly-mammoth-tusk-fossil-fragment-alaskan-ice-age-specimen","provider":"ForeverGems_SA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}