Woolly Mammoth Lower Jaw with M3 Molar

Description: This is a spectacular Mammoth fossil specimen! This left lower jaw section with the tooth still embedded was probably from a female about 40 years of age. The tooth itself is spectacular, even showing varied hues. The bone from the jaw segment displays the actual cellular structure where it was crushed and broken. Mammoths had six pairs of molars that grew into their lower and upper jaw during their lifetime. Each pair was slowly ground down and then replaced by bigger ones. When the final pair was finished, at about 60 years of age, the animal was no longer able to chew its food and would die from starvation.

The story of how these mammoth remains are collected is fascinating. Dutch fishermen dredge them up while trawling for fish in the open seas. Strong tidal currents scour the sea bottom and release these fossils from their sandy graves. The specimens are specially treated to preserve and enhance their strength.