The discovery of this incredible mammoth creature dates back to 2000, but this year efforts to excavate it are ramping up.

Saturday, April 18, from noon to 3pm,  The DIG IT event will launch the 2015 digging season in Coyote Canyon, where the remains of a Columbian Mammoth were discovered in 2000. During a quarrying operation in Coyote Canyon that year, workers discovered what looked like large bones. Work was halted when the bones found were determined to be from a mammoth.

The creature dates back to at least 11,700 years ago, when the last great Ice Age melted away a huge sheet that covered much of North America for thousands of years.  This was the last of the five big ice ages.  The same glacial activity that created Badger, Red, and Rattlesnake Mountains - and subsequent melting - left this mammoth buried in our area.  Thousands of them once roamed the Mid-Columbia.  That period of time was known as the Pleistocene Era in Earth's history.

To put it in perspective, it's similar in time to the animated movie Ice Age, really.  And the fellow found in Southeast Kennewick is pretty much like Manny the Mammoth!

Initial photos of Mammoth discovery, circa 2000
Initial photos of Mammoth discovery, circa 2000 (Coyote Canyon Mammoth Dig website)
loading...

After years of effort by many volunteers and scientists, the land where the mammoth was found was purchased by a rancher, and set aside for archeology.  Since 2008, the site has been annual combed through slowly and carefully, with hopes of preserving what is believed to be a complete mammoth skeleton. The site is called the Coyote Canyon Mammoth Dig, in honor of the area where it was discovered.

April 18th, the public is invited to attend the opening ceremonies of the 2015 dig season. To do so, make sure you RSVP to the Coyote Canyon Mammoth site by clicking here.

And, Ice Harbor Brewery is selling a special Mammoth beer, with proceeds going towards funding the archeology dig.  Make sure to stop by Ice Harbor Brewery on Clover Island Drive and have some Mammoth beer, and help fund this great effort!

 

More From 870 AM KFLD