Construction crews unearth mammoth bones in Oregon State's stadium

Construction crews digging in the north end zone of Oregon State’s Reser Stadium made an unexpected discovery — mammoth bones.

The construction crew unearthed a large femur bone, which anthropologists believe was from a mammoth. Other bones from several other extinct animal also were found.

“There are quite a few bones, and dozens of pieces,” Loren Davis, an associate professor of anthropology at OSU who was called to the site after the initial discovery was made, said in an Oregon State release. “Some of the bones are not in very good shape, but some are actually quite well preserved.”

Davis said no human remains were found and that more testing would be needed to determine exactly what kind of animals were found and when they roamed the Earth. Davis believes the area construction crews were digging up was part of a marsh or bog that would have been a watering hole for several animals.

“Animals who were sick would often go to a body of water and die there, so it’s not unusual to find a group of bones like this,” Davis said. “We had all of these types of animals in the Willamette Valley back then.”

Construction crews were digging up the end zone as part of the Valley Football Center expansion and renovation project. The construction began at the end of the 2015 football season and should be completed before the 2016 season begins. Construction is currently halted while the bones are cleared.

For more Oregon State news, visit BeaverBlitz.com.

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