North America, Alaska, Pleistocene period, ca. 40,000 years ago. A caudal vertebrae from a mammoth. The bone has absorbed iron from the surrounding soil, giving it a rust color. Comes with custom stand. Size: 4.95" W x 5.45" H (12.6 cm x 13.8 cm)

Caudal vertebrae tend to lose some of their features the further from the base of the tail they go, because they need to support fewer muscles and nerves the further down the tail they are. This one seems to be from fairly high up in the tail, when it still needed to support weight. The vertebrae here has fused epiphyses, visible when looking at it head on, which indicates that it was from a mature adult animal rather than a juvenile.

Provenance: Ex-Private St. Louis, MO collection

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#118789

Some losses to bone as shown.