Mammoth Remains Unearthed in Lafayette

A landowner in Acadiana, Louisiana, uncovered a fossilized mammoth tooth while digging and contacted paleontologists at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Researchers believe additional remains—including lower-jaw sections, tusks and possibly limb bones—are preserved in muddy, waterlogged ground, and are working to recover them for careful study and preservation. The find will add to the region’s record of Ice Age animals and could help researchers investigate the age of fossils from the area, which has been difficult to establish. The project also offers hands-on research experience for university students, and museum officials encourage landowners to report fossil discoveries.