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Fossil Frenzy: Museum's Mammoth Move
31 Oct
Summary
- Millions of fossils require packing and moving over two years.
- A massive Columbian mammoth named Zed was found during construction.
- Museum staff continue sorting through 23 boxes of Ice Age finds.
A Los Angeles institution is embarking on a significant two-year undertaking to relocate 3.5 million fossils. This extensive process involves packing, moving, and unpacking the vast collection while modernizing facilities. The museum's efforts are highlighted by the discovery of Zed, a large Columbian mammoth.
Zed, related to modern elephants, was found in 2006 during excavation for a nearby museum garage. The 9,000-pound specimen, approximately 80 percent intact, was discovered after a bulldozer struck its skull. The remains were subsequently moved to the La Brea Tar Pits.
In addition to Zed, 23 boxes containing numerous other fossil deposits, uncovered during the same excavation, are still being sorted. Paleontologists have been working diligently through these Ice Age remnants for nearly two decades as of 2026.
