News Release Archive

Mammoth Fossil Recovered from American Falls Reservoir

Media Contact: David Walsh, (208) 378-5026, 10/24/2014 15:27
Jennifer Huang, jhuang@usbr.gov

For Release: October 24, 2014

BOISE, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation reports that the fossil remains of a more than 70,000 year-old mammoth discovered near American Falls Reservoir last week were excavated and transferred to the Idaho Museum of Natural History in Pocatello.

A partial skull encased in plaster and parts of one tusk were carefully removed by IMNH paleontological staff under contract with the Bureau of Reclamation on the weekend of Oct. 18. Museum researchers who examined growth rings on the tusk estimate the mammal was 16 years old at the time of its death.

"The exposed fossil will be cleaned and prepped for long-term storage or possibly exhibit, depending on its state of preservation," said Dr. Mary Thompson, IMNH Senior Collection Manager and lead contractor for the fossil recovery effort. "This find is exciting because there are still teeth in place in the jaw - so much can be learned from that."

The threat of rising water in the reservoir prompted Reclamation to act quickly to recover the remains. Under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, federal agencies are required to manage paleontological resources located on federal land. Also, the law which was enacted in 2009 says the fossil locations should be kept confidential to protect them from looting.

The fossils were found in an irrigation drainage, about 30 feet below the reservoir high water mark. Reclamation's Upper Snake Field Office Manager Roland Springer believes that increased flows in a small drainage due to unusually heavy rainfall in August caused erosion which led to the exposure of the tusk and skull artifacts. "We're very lucky to have recovered them," says Springer. "Had they not been reported to Reclamation, the fossils may have been eroded and carried away into the reservoir."

Casual collection of fossils is not permitted on Reclamation-managed areas at American Falls Reservoir. If fossils are found on reservoir lands, Reclamation asks the public to photograph them, note their GPS location if possible, and report their findings to the nearest Reclamation office or the IMNH in Pocatello.

"The scientific value of those specimens is so high that we really need to make sure that they get into the hands of researchers who can interpret these things and help us understand their significance," says Reclamation's Regional Archaeologist Dr. Sean Hess.

View fossil excavation photos: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/images/photos/afmammoth2014.pdf

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.