Mammoth Remains Discovered in Kyrgyzstan’s Ak-Suu District
The Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic has reported the discovery of mammoth bones in the Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region.
According to the Ministry, a mammoth tusk was uncovered on June 2 during excavation work in the sandy terrain of the ancient floodplain of the Jyrgalan River. The discovery was promptly reported by the quarry owner, leading archaeologists to the site on June 3.
Upon examination, it was found that fragments of the tusk and lower jaw were scattered in two separate locations within the quarry, approximately 140-150 meters apart and buried at depths of 3 to 5 meters. Further excavation revealed part of the buried bone.
Due to the bones’ poor preservation, archaeologists were only able to retrieve a portion of the skull. The recovered fragments were initially cleaned and preserved on-site before being packaged for transportation. After conservation efforts, all findings will be transferred to the museum.
While these are currently isolated discoveries, their presence in two distinct areas within the same quarry suggests the potential for further findings in the region, according to the Ministry.
This recent find echoes a similar discovery made in Jyrgalan in 2016, where local residents stumbled upon the remains of a prehistoric animal, believed to be a mammoth. Archaeological excavations revealed fragments of the animal’s skull, tusks, and teeth, highlighting the area’s rich paleontological significance.
