Israeli archaeologists unearthed a fossilized elephant tusk that dates back approximately 500,000 years and once belonged to a prehistoric pachyderm, a large mammal with thick skin, in southern Israel.
The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the discovery Wednesday, saying the 8-foot tusk belonged to a long-extinct straight-tusked elephant. The tusk was found during a joint excavation with researchers from Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University, according to the Associated Press.
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The discovery is considered “the largest complete fossil tusk ever found at a prehistoric site in Israel or the Near East,” according to prehistorian Avi Levy, the dig’s leader.
The now-extinct species was much larger than modern African elephants and was part of the wildlife in the area, which included wild cattle, horses, deer, wild boars, and hippopotamuses, according to Reuters. The animal was likely hunted by ancient people for food and symbolic purposes, according to Dr. Omry Barzilai, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“We anticipate that the discovery of the new tusk in a clear archaeological context will shed light on this issue,” Barzilai said.
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Once the excavation of the site and conservation process is complete, the tusk will be displayed in Israel’s National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Israel Antiquities Authority for comment.
