Fossil enthusiast Eddie Templeton made a significant discovery while exploring in Mississippi, stumbling upon what appeared to be a portion of an ice-age elephant tusk embedded in a steep embankment. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality praised the find as an incredibly rare occurrence within the state, as it was still intact. The department raised concerns over the fossil’s vulnerability to the drying effects of the Mississippi sun, prompting a rush to safeguard the artifact before it could be damaged.

Upon examination by members of the State Survey team, the fossil tusk was found to be in superb condition, indicating its potential as a valuable scientific discovery. The strong curvature of the massive tusk led experts to speculate that it may have belonged to a Columbian mammoth, rather than the more common mastodon usually found in the region. This distinction marked a unique find for the area, as confirmed by the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science paleontologist after the fossil was brought to a laboratory for further analysis.

The Mammoth to which the tusk belonged was just one of many intriguing creatures that inhabited the ice-age prairie ecosystem in what is now Mississippi, according to scientists. This ancient environment was once home to various extinct species, including herds of horses, giant bison, saber-toothed cats, lions, massive ground sloths, giant tortoises, and tapirs, painting a vivid picture of the diverse wildlife that once thrived in the region.