The Waco Mammoth National Monument preserves some extraordinary fossils of Columbian Mammoths. Columbian Mammoths were the larger cousins of Woolly Mammoths, and they ranged across the more temperate southern portions of North America during the ice age. This incredible fossil find represents the only recorded fossil site of a family group of Columbian Mammoths, known as a nursery herd, in America. In all, more than 30 mammoth individuals have been discovered at the site.
The story of this site becomes even more fascinating when you realize that there are 3 mammoth fossils disconnected from the timeline of the mammoth nursery herd. Like the nursery herd, the 3 mammoths were trapped by a flood event. This flood event occurred about 51,000 years ago, and happened 14,000-21,000 years after the nursery herd flood event (65,000-72,000 years ago). Several other prehistoric animal fossils have been discovered at this special site. All of our National Monuments, both large and small, serve an important role in preserving and protecting natural and historic places.
I was able to experience the Waco Mammoth National Monument with one of my sons-in-law, Sam. Sam is an explorer by nature, so he shared my fascination with the prehistoric story written in these fossils. The site was discovered in 1978 when two young men were exploring the ravine and searching for arrowheads in the riverbed. Their exploration led to the discovery of something much older, and the rest is history.
The Takeaway
Curious exploration can lead to discoveries that exceed our expectations and expand our thinking.
The Reflection
We don’t always appreciate how incredible and mysterious our prehistoric past is. The megafauna of Central Texas during the last ice age is not something that Sam and I would have necessarily chosen to think deeply about without some exploration. However, I should give props to Amy and my daughter Anna for their planned adventure to Magnolia Market in Waco. That put Sam and me in prime position to visit the Waco Mammoth National Monument.
Field Question
What simple outdoor activities do you engage in to help you unplug and explore?