Giant 7-foot mammoth tusk accidentally found after 10,000 years in US ‘miracle’ – but it was nearly destroyed

A PARTIAL mammoth skeleton with a complete tusk has been discovered in North Dakota.

The astonishing find was made by coal miners while working at the Freedom Mine, near the city of Beulah last May.

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Miners initially loaded the tusk onto a truck before realizing its significance.

However, after recognizing its potential importance, the miners alerted the authorities, according to local news program KFYR.

The area was quickly closed off to allow paleontologists to survey and excavate the area.

Researchers soon after unearthed more than 20 bones from the mammoth skeleton.

This includes rib bones, a shoulder blade, a tooth, and parts of the hips.

Clint Boyd, senior paleontologist for the North Dakota Geological Survey, called the findings “an exciting and scientifically important discovery,” in a statement.

This is mainly due to most mammoth fossils found in North Dakota being single bones and teeth.

“This specimen is one of the most complete mammoth skeletons discovered in North Dakota,” Boyd added.

The bones were transported to the Paleontology Lab at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck after being uncovered.

Now, the bones will undergo cleaning before having their properties analyzed.

While this is being done, the North Dakota Geological Survey and the Freedom Mine are working put the bones on public display.

Jeff Person, a paleontologist with the North Dakota Geological Survey called the find “miraculous”.

This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk