News

Mammoth Bone Study

Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009

Dr. Mecholsky

Portrait of Dr. Mecholsky

Dr. K. Jones

Portrait of Dr. K. Jones

UF MSE Faculty recently helped verify the authenticity of one of the most significant prehistoric art pieces ever discovered in North America. The team of Kevin Jones, Jack Mecholsky and Jerry Bourne recently worked with paleontologist Dr. Barbara Purdy on studying a carving of a Mammoth on the side of a prehistoric bone.

Using Optical and Electron Microscopy combined with X-ray spectroscopy the scientists concluded the carving on the bone appears to be aged equivalent to the rest of the bone surface lending validity to the claim it was carved over 10,000 years ago. The story was covered in many media outlets including National Geographic.