{"product_id":"woolly-mammoth-tusk-fossil-fragment-from-alaska","title":"Woolly Mammoth Tusk Fossil Fragment from Alaska","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 preserves the weathered outer surface of a tusk that once belonged to one of the great herbivores of the Ice Age. 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, it displays rich earthy brown and tan colouring, natural surface weathering and the characteristic elongated texture of mammoth tusk material. Its irregular edges and fractures are part of its natural history, giving this specimen the character of fossil material shaped by thousands of years in Alaska's harsh environment.\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 S974\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 \u003cspan class=\"text-token-text-primary cursor-text rounded-sm\"\u003e34mm x 145mm x 15mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cspan class=\"text-token-text-primary cursor-text rounded-sm\"\u003e64 gram\u003c\/span\u003e\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 adapted to the cold environments of northern Eurasia and North America. 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 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, transforming 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. 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 cracks, splits and weathering seen on this specimen are therefore part of its story. They record a long journey from an Ice Age mammoth, through burial and preservation, to eventual discovery in the Tanana River Valley.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ForeverGems_Tuc26","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46516778959044,"sku":"S974","price":190.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/1599\/4699\/files\/S974WoollyMammothTusk_1.webp?v=1786632981","url":"https:\/\/www.forevergems.co.za\/products\/woolly-mammoth-tusk-fossil-fragment-from-alaska","provider":"ForeverGems_SA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}