Mammoths in Yukon and Alaska went extinct about 10,000 years ago—it was the end of the Pleistocene era. These megafauna went extinct but their tusks and other remains have survived tens of thousands of years, entombed in the subarctic permafrost. Imagine, if you will, that these tusks have not seen the light of day for 35,000 years on average. Imagine further the coincidence of a miner, driven by the pursuit of gold, stumbling across one of these tusks. This tusk has survived impossible odds and the miner is as excited by this discovery as he is in finding gold. It may only be a piece of the original tusk, it may be partly rotten, or it may be fully intact, in any case he knows this is a special discovery and he will take pains to care for it. After all, this is what remains of the animal that dominated this land back in its time and if the miner doesn’t take special care, the tusk will not survive. It has been preserved deep in permanently frozen ground but the moment it is exposed to the light of day it will begin to thaw and the natural process of decomposition begins. Once dug up the tusk must be protected from the sun, rain, and extreme conditions andproperly stored.
If not for the conscientious efforts of man, the story of the mammoth would be lost.
The Gold Miner
Preserving mammoth tusks begins with the men who find them, the miners of the Alaskan and Klondike Gold Fields. Mammoth remains are buried throughout the north, but the only people actively excavating the frozen earth are miners seeking placer gold. These miners are seeking ancient gold bearing creek beds that are typically 20 to 200 feet deep. These are the very same creeks the animals of the Pleistocene drank from. So, naturally, as the miners thaw the ground and dig down to these ancient creek beds they occasionally unearth the remains of mammoths and other ancient animals. When a mammoth tusk is unearthed it becomes the responsibility of the miner to carefully remove it from the freshly thawing muck and properly store it.
The miner is under no obligation to care for these fossil tusks other than the gut moral obligation to care for something ancient and fascinating, and the opportunity to sell the tusks they find. I’m impressed by the care and concern most miners show in preserving the tusks and other remains.
Mostly rotten mammoth tusks.
Gold miners know that the mammoth was the dominant species of this land. Now that man dominates this land there is a sort of kinship, a respectful obligation to care for what has already survived an unimaginable millennia.
Tip and Tail stand alone to tell a story of survival
The Scientist
The preservation of a tusk is also about understanding the story of the mammoth and the other megafauna of the Pleistocene. The Paleontologists, geneticists, and lab techs help to tell the story, fact or theory. They seek to answer questions including why the mammoth prospered here in the north, how long they survived, what they ate, what the atmospheric conditions were like, where they roamed, and why their tenure on earth finally ended.
Alan Cooper with Dick Mol and Grant Zazula discussing a bison scull as a source of ancient DNA.
The Artist
The artist is ultimately charged with bringing these remains back to life. Whether preserving a tusk in part or whole, or working the pieces that remain, the artist is the individual who will find the best way to celebrate each distinct piece in a way that brings the mammoth's story to life.
A mammoth tusk preserved and "brought back to life."
The Investor
Investors are the institutions (museums) and individuals (like you) that support the preservation of the woolly mammoth fiscally. These are the people that walk into studios and stores and are moved by the beauty of fossil ivory jewelry, sculpture, and restored tusks. They are inspired by the story of survival and wish to buy a piece of history for themselves—to display at home, in a museum, or wear as jewelry. This is where the story of the mammoth and the individual merge. People share the story of their mammoth piece with friends and acquaintances. Preserving the ancient past give us perspective and humility. These stories spark curiosity, spread knowledge and appreciation, and brings new life to these ancient, extinct beasts by expanding the community.
Watch for future blog posts where we'll look deeper into the people and topics of Preservation Mammoth and how together we bring the mammoth back to life. Please let me know what you think and what you'd like to hear more about.