In northwest North Dakota, grid lines were set up for a potential fossil dig after mammoth teeth were discovered in 1988 during the construction of a garage. The North Dakota Geological Survey provided the photo.
State Geologist Ed Murphy has been intrigued by these mammoth bones for over 35 years. On Tuesday, he briefed the North Dakota Industrial Commission about the discovery and discussed plans to excavate part of the site, possibly needing state funds to complete the project.
Back in 1988, a homeowner reported finding woolly mammoth bones while digging a garage foundation. The homeowner sent some teeth to North Dakota State University, where they were confirmed to be from a mammoth. By the time Murphy visited the site, the garage had already been built.
Murphy asked the homeowner if he would consider moving the garage and breaking up the foundation for an archaeological dig. The homeowner agreed, but the project never materialized due to a lack of resources.
In December 2023, Murphy revisited his notes and contacted the current homeowner, who knew about the mammoth bones. A small test dig revealed bone fragments, tusk pieces, and three undisturbed bones.
Margaret Patton, a research archaeologist, used ground-penetrating radar to detect anomalies at the site. The crew plans to return for a larger dig in mid-September.
If they uncover a big rock, I’ll be sad, but I’m hoping for bigger mammoth bones,” Patton said.
If the September dig shows potential, the team may request a budget from the Legislature to continue work into 2025. A nearly complete mammoth skeleton would be a first for North Dakota.
In 2023, coal miners near Beulah found a well-preserved 7-foot mammoth tusk and 18 other bones. Fossil bones like these are fragile and need careful extraction and stabilization.
Murphy is hopeful about the new dig site but knows there are no guarantees. It still will be a gamble of what’s under there, he said.