Workers in San Antonio Xahuento, Tultepec, in the State of Mexico, discovered the first mammoth trap in the world in a municipal common land.
Archeologist Luis Córdoba Barradas explained that they found 800 bones of at least 14 of these animals from the Elephantidae family, two vertebrae and a camel jaw, as well as a horse molar.
“These are two artificial mammoth traps. This is a historic finding, not only on the country but in the world, because there have not been other traps of this kind found in any other parts of the world ever,” said Córdoba Barradas.
The land where the fossils were found is property of the municipality and it was being prepared to be turned into a landfill. In January this year, the workers found the remains and alerted the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
“There are remains of at least 14 mammoths from 14,700 years ago,” added the expert.
Presentación de los hallazgos de contextos arqueológicos de cacerías de #Mamuts en #Tultepec #EstadodeMéxico. pic.twitter.com/Yg3aDorfGf
— INAHmx (@INAHmx) November 6, 2019
The INAH archeologist said that Carbon-14 tests are yet to be carried out to verify the exact age of these remains, although the finding was made underneath 12 cm of ashes from the Popocatépetl volcano, dating back to 14,700 years ago (Popocatepetl is located about 75 km away), and that’s how an approximate date has being calculated.
Córdoba Barradas said they have verified two traps, but they think there could be three more.
“The site is not open to the public, nor will it be, because these are fragile fossils. The remains will be exhibited in Tultepec’s Mammoth Museum, but it will take some time,” said Pedro Francisco Sánchez Nava, INAH’s national Archeology coordinator.
Mexican archeologists have also found mammoth fossils in the state of Jalisco.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom with information from El Universal
