A massive Columbian mammoth skull has been unearthed at a sand and gravel site in Ellis County, Texas, marking one of the most significant Ice Age discoveries in the region. The fossil, though not fully intact, is the largest specimen ever found at the site, according to researchers.
The newly discovered mammoth is estimated to be between 18 and 20 years old at the time of its death. Based on its teeth and bones, experts believe it could have weighed up to 3,000 pounds.
The site has produced other notable finds in the past, including Ellie May, a nearly complete mammoth discovered in 2018, which is now on display at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
The Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), an extinct species, lived in North America from southern Canada to Costa Rica during the Pleistocene epoch. Descended from Eurasian steppe mammoths that arrived in North America around 1.5 million years ago, they later hybridized with woolly mammoths.
Among the last mammoth species, they gave rise to pygmy mammoths on California’s Channel Islands. Their closest living relative is the Asian elephant.
On the 2025 Rangers caravan, we visited the dig site for excavation of a 40,000 year old Colombian mammoth in Italy,TX on Tuesday thanks to Texas Through Time Museum. Josh Sborz and Cody Bradford joined me (a fossil with a fossil) at the site. Tusks can be seen on lower right. pic.twitter.com/V6HCsj9bY9
— John Blake (@RangerBlake) January 29, 2025
A major find for ‘Texas Through Time’
Texas Through Time, a Hillsboro-based paleontology museum, has announced it will receive the fossil for further study and public exhibition. The remains are being excavated and will soon undergo preparation in the museum’s fossil lab, where visitors can watch the restoration process in real-time.
Once complete, the mammoth skull will serve as the centerpiece of a new Ice Age exhibit at Texas Through Time’s expanded 40,000-square-foot facility. The exhibit will also feature fossils of prehistoric camels, horses, sloths, and the short-faced bear, an extinct predator from the same era.
This is a truly exciting discovery, explained museum director Andre LuJan. Not only is it a major scientific find, but it’s also an opportunity to inspire future generations and ignite curiosity about Earth’s ancient history.
Education and community impact
The excavation and display efforts are being supported by private donors and the Texas Rangers Baseball Team. Their contributions will help fund the restoration and exhibit, as well as educational programs for students in rural communities.
Museum officials say this discovery will enhance Texas Through Time’s mission to provide accessible science education and increase public interest in paleontology. The fossil collection, which focuses on Texas-based finds, continues to grow as researchers work to uncover more pieces of the region’s prehistoric past.
This mammoth will serve as an incredible learning tool, LuJan said. For many students in smaller communities, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with history in a hands-on way.
As excavation efforts continue, researchers hope the latest discovery will provide new insights into the lives and environments of these ancient giants. The mammoth skull is expected to draw significant public interest when it goes on display, offering visitors a rare look at one of Texas’s most impressive prehistoric inhabitants.
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