SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Would you give away an ice age mammoth tusk?

Feb 14, 2014, 1:33 PM | Updated: Feb 15, 2014, 8:43 am

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in a Seattle construction site was retrieved Friday evening from a 30-foot-deep pit.

Scientists and construction crews used a crane to retrieve and hoist the tusk, which was placed on a pallet, encased in plaster and covered in blankets, to a waiting flat-bed truck. The tusk headed to its new home a few miles away at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture on the University of Washington’s Seattle campus, where it will be preserved, studied and eventually put on display.

The fossilized tusk was discovered Tuesday during excavation at a new apartment complex underway in the Cascade neighborhood.

Property owners AMLI Residential agreed to give the tusk to the Burke Museum following its discovery.

After seeing some other tusks advertised for sale on the Internet for over $400,000, KIRO Radio’s Ron Upshaw from the Ron and Don Show isn’t so sure he’d be as willing as the developers to simply give it away.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

Seattle News Archives & Features

The location of the Vertical Evacuation Tower will be near the Westport Marina. It will be the thir...

Tom Brock

Rising above the risk: Westport breaks ground on Washington’s newest tsunami refuge

The city of Westport broke ground Saturday on what will become Washington state's latest tsunami-safe location: a new vertical evacuation tower.

3 days ago

Andre Sayles (2) bite of seattle shooting suspect...

Tom Brock

Texts on hold: SPD delays Bite of Seattle shooting records

Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles says he needs more time before he can release the police department's internal communications the night of the deadly "Bite of Seattle" shootings.

23 days ago

Two alleged wire thieves caught in the act on Highway 12 near Aberdeen. Authorities estimate they d...

Tom Brock

Grounded: Grays Harbor deputies cut short highway wire heist

Deputies in Grays Harbor arrested two men Saturday for trying to steal hundreds of feet of wire along Highway 12.

23 days ago

A huge tree fell in the parking lot of Burien's Seahurst Park, crushing six vehicles....

Tom Brock

Fallen tree crushes parked cars at Burien’s Seahurst Park

A huge tree fell in the parking lot of Burien's Seahurst Park Monday and crushed six cars.

29 days ago

Two separate shootings in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood left two people dead and three others inj...

Tom Brock

Belltown violence: 2 separate shootings leave 2 dead, 3 injured early Sunday morning

Two separate shootings in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood overnight left two people dead and three others injured.

1 month ago

Associated Press

Teenager arrested and 5 others sought in deadly July 4 fire in Washington state

EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — An 18-year-old in Washington state has been arrested for the investigation of manslaughter and arson in connection with a deadly July 4 fire, a county sheriff said Thursday. The teen from Kent was among a group of people setting off illegal fireworks from the back of a truck when one […]

1 month ago

Would you give away an ice age mammoth tusk?