Fossil - Woolly mammoth humerus fragment, S size

Fossil - Woolly mammoth humerus fragment, S size

Pleistocene, 150,000-20,000 years ago, North Sea .

A fragment of the shoulder bone (humerus) of a young woolly mammoth with a special shape. In good condition. Great patina. The bone piece has been treated with a varnish layer that protects the surface. Age-related wear. Fractures and chip. The size of the fragment is approximately 250mm x 98mm x 63mm. Weight approx. 725g.

The woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) is a mammoth species that lived during the Ice Age. In terms of size, woolly mammoths were in the same category as the largest land mammal alive today, the African elephant. Woolly mammoths lived in the vast mammoth steppes of the northernmost parts of Eurasia, which stretched as an almost continuous grazing area from the Atlantic coast to Alaska. Mammoths lived in the steppes in large herds led by an old female. The most common mammoth herd was 10 individuals. Males were not members of these packs, but lived solitary bachelor lives and only came into the pack when one of the females was in heat. The males were then very aggressive and had furious fights with each other. The woolly mammoth was well adapted to the cold, arctic conditions. The mammoth had a thin woolly undercoat and a very thick topcoat that covered the whole body. The number of mammoths began to decrease in Europe about 40,000 years ago, when modern humans arrived in the area. The final extinction occurred around 16,000-10,000 years ago.

Symbol meaning

Mammoths have fascinated people for tens of thousands of years. The woolly mammoth symbolizes above all strength, patience and endurance. Mammoths are considered to have been wise, gentle and all around friendly giants who, when enraged, did not hesitate to use force and defend their herd. Mammoths have been a popular subject in ancient cave paintings and tools and important idols were carved from their bones. Fragments of mammoth bones and teeth are thought to hold ancient wisdom and deep knowledge. In addition, they serve as a reminder of the fragility and uncertainty of life.

Note! Mammoth bone fossils and their fragments are fragile. Fossils are natural products, j so each of them is its own unique individual. Because of this, colors, shapes and brightness may vary. The condition varies from moderate to good and they have wear, fractures and small chips typical of fossils.