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Mammoth Bones Rewrite Ice Age History
27 Sep
Summary
- Mammoth remains found near Condover in 1986 changed Ice Age understanding.
- Bones belonged to five mammoths, dating back 14,000 years.
- Discovery proved mammoths lived in Britain much later than known.
Forty years ago, a remarkable discovery in western Europe transformed scientific understanding of the Ice Age. In September 1986, quarry workers near Condover, Shropshire, uncovered the remains of five mammoths.
These ancient bones, initially misidentified, were found to be the most complete adult mammoth skeleton discovered in Britain. Radiocarbon dating revealed the animals lived approximately 14,000 years ago.
This revelation proved that mammoths inhabited Britain much later than previously believed, significantly revising the established timeline for their presence on the island. The discovery continues to be a landmark event in paleontological history.