Ostravské muzeum

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MAMMOTH TUSK

The mammoth tusk probably belonged to an adult individual that died during a seasonal migration route passing south of present-day Ostrava. Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine the time when the mammoth from Polanka died.

For now, the oldest mammoth remains are known from southern and eastern Africa (about 6 million years). By 3 million years ago, mammoths had spread to Eurasia and then into North America. Some mammoths could grow up to 5.3 metres, but most were the size of today's Indian elephant (2.5-3 metres).

They fed on plants, lived in herds and migrated to summer and winter pastures. They preferred the open landscape of grass steppes and tundra. Mammoths disappeared from our territory between 20000 and 10000 BC. In some isolated places, such as Wrangel Island or St. Paul Island near Alaska, mammoths survived until around 2000 BC. But these mammoths were much smaller, reaching less than two metres.

Skeletal remains of animals from the Ice Age were found quite often in the Ostrava region. Besides mammoth remains, we know, for example, reindeer antlers from Ostrava-Mariánské Hory, or teeth of a woolly rhinoceros from Ostrava-Poruba. Another interesting discovery was made in 1881, when a large mammoth molar was pulled out from a depth of 47 metres during the digging of the Josef shaft in Silesian Ostrava.

The numerous bone finds show that herd animals, including mammoths, regularly migrated along this area, either northwards or southwards, depending on the seasons. This was used by prehistoric hunters who used various hills in the Ostrava region as temporary camps. Among the most famous campsites were Landek Hill (in Ostrava-Petřkovice) and Hladový Hill (in Ostrava-Hošťálkovice).

The exposed mammoth tusk was found by Jan and Jiří Vážanský in April 2009 when they were rafting down the Odra River. It was after high water, which probably brought the tusk into the riverbed. Both men got the tusk out of the river and informed the staff of the Ostrava Museum about the finding. They used special conservation procedures to ensure that the tusk would not dry out or disintegrate and could later be displayed.