An extraordinary discovery has been made by avid artifact and fossil collector Eddie Templeton in Madison County, Mississippi. While exploring the area, Templeton stumbled upon a remarkable find - a section of an Ice Age-era Columbian mammoth tusk protruding from a steep embankment. Excited by his discovery, Templeton promptly notified the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), leading to a collaborative effort between MDEQ's Mississippi State Geological Survey scientists and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science to excavate and stabilize the precious fossil.

The team spent an entire day meticulously cleaning the tusk to reveal its full glory. The 7-foot-long ivory fossil was suspected to belong to a Columbian mammoth due to its strong curvature, setting it apart from the more commonly found mastodon. This hypothesis was later confirmed by paleontologists at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.

The find marks a significant milestone for the region as it is believed to be the first Columbian mammoth tusk discovered in the area. Mississippi Museum of Natural Science paleontologists confirmed that the tusk indeed belonged to a mammoth, adding to the rich tapestry of prehistoric creatures that once roamed the state during the last ice age.

Mississippi was home to three Proboscideans during this period - Mastodon, Gomphothere, and the mighty Columbian mammoth. All three species possessed ivory tusks, with mastodons being the most frequently discovered Proboscidean remains in Mississippi. Unlike mastodons, which were browsers similar to modern deer and inhabited various environments, Columbian mammoths were larger creatures, measuring up to 15 feet in height and weighing over 10 tons. These colossal mammals played a crucial role in maintaining the rich fertile prairie ecosystem, much like their modern elephant relatives today.

To further study the animal, scientists created a plaster jacket by covering the fossil with aluminum foil and burlap. This allowed them to gather valuable information about the creature. The team concluded that the tusk specimen was leaning against an ancient sandbar of a stream while resting on the floor of its channel. It is believed that the animal likely died nearby, with its remains then carried along the stream's channel before being entombed by alluvium.

Eddie Templeton's remarkable find provides a rare glimpse into the Columbian mammoths that once roamed Madison County along the Jackson Prairie of central Mississippi. The MDEQ and Eddie Templeton were contacted for further comment by Fox News Digital. This extraordinary discovery not only sheds light on the prehistoric inhabitants of the region but also serves as a testament to the importance of preserving our natural history.