Meet Zed. This ice-age Columbian mammoth is massive and was around 47-51 years old when he died (usual life expectancy was likely 60.)
He was found at the Rancho La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles back in 2006 when the LA County Museum of Art was expanding and building a new parking garage. He likely died while wandering into a stream to drink water, unaware of the danger lurking below the surface. He ultimately became stuck and died of exhaustion or starvation. Luckily for us, scavengers didn’t go after his bones, and he likely was quickly covered up.
He is special for a variety of ways. Firstly he is one of the most complete skeletons, with over 80% of him found. He is also one of the largest found in the tar pits. Also most mammoth tusks are poorly preserved, but his 10 foot ones are all there. Its also interesting to study cancerous bones and bones that were injured and healed. His bones are also articulated allowing for additional study.
They say tar fused so much with the bones that it still can ooze out of his skull. Be sure to check him out at the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CA.
Protip: Ask for the Tar Pits & Natural History Museum combo tickets.
Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.
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