Rare Mammoth Tusk Discovered by Deer Hunter in West Texas

The fossilized tusk, likely from a Columbian mammoth, has been excavated and is undergoing analysis at Sul Ross State University.

A deer hunter in West Texas found a fossilized mammoth tusk in a creek bed on the O2 Ranch, a rare discovery for the region.
Researchers from Sul Ross State University confirmed the tusk's identity and carefully excavated it over two days for further study.
The tusk is believed to belong to a Columbian mammoth, a species that roamed North America before going extinct around 11,700 years ago.
Radiocarbon dating will be conducted to determine the tusk's age, with results expected to narrow the range to within 500 years.
This is the first mammoth tusk found in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas since the 1960s, highlighting its historical and scientific significance.