#55 • Juvenile Woolly Mammoth Skull Fossil

Part of June 2025 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $46,000.00

Status: Sold

Category: Natural History

A fossilized juvenile Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) skull, complete with matching tusks, presented on a custom-crafted display base of exotic Wenge hardwood and steel. This museum-quality specimen dates to the Pleistocene Epoch, commonly referred to as the last Ice Age, and represents a young individual estimated to have been between only 5 and 10 years old at the time of death. The Woolly Mammoth is perhaps the most iconic of all Ice Age megafauna. These immense herbivores, boasting lifespans of up to 65 years, once roamed the vast "mammoth steppe," a cold, dry grassland that spanned from Western Europe through Siberia and into North America. Adapted to some of the harshest climates in Earth’s history, they evolved long, curved tusks - used for foraging and combat - a thick undercoat of insulating fur, and high-domed skulls suited to pushing through snow. First appearing nearly 400,000 years ago, mammoths coexisted with early humans and were central to prehistoric life: hunted for their meat and hides, carved into tools and ornaments, and immortalized in the Paleolithic cave art of sites such as Chauvet and Lascaux. Some populations survived in isolation on Arctic islands as recently as 1650 BCE, nearly a thousand years after the construction of the Great Pyramids. Discovered in the permafrost of Yakutia, Siberia, and estimated to be approximately 10,000 to 20,000 years old, the skull remained in exceptional condition for millennia, preserved in the deep freeze of the tundra's permafrost until warming trends in the early 21st century revealed it. Juvenile mammoth skulls of this caliber are exceedingly rare in both institutional and private collections, particularly those retaining such a high proportion of original material. This example is estimated to be 80–85% complete, with restoration performed to professional standards following its legal export to Lithuania by a reputable dealer. The upper ball joint lobes of the mandible were reconstructed, weathering at the top of the skull was stabilized and filled, and one tusk - found cleanly broken in two - was rejoined with the use of industrial adhesive. Pre-restoration photographs are available upon request, documenting the specimen as found in situ. Unlike most mammoth skulls on the market - many of which are composite reconstructions made from multiple specimens or heavily supplemented with resin and filler - this example remains largely intact and anatomically consistent. The tusks, the longest measuring just under 40" along the outer curve, remain unattached for ease of transport but fit naturally in their sockets. The final owner may choose to secure them permanently, a simple task and recommended in earthquake-prone regions such as Alaska. The overall dimensions of the display (excluding tusks) are approximately 24" wide, 28" deep, and 46" tall, with a combined skull and tusk weight estimated at 100-120 pounds. The custom-engineered base supports both the cranium and mandible independently and is designed for simple assembly and breakdown. Minor surface wear is visible on the restored lobes where the cranium has rubbed against the lower jaw and stand, left unaltered for transparency but easily correctable with color-matched paint. While adult mammoth skulls do occasionally surface on the open market and consistently fetch well into the six figures, juvenile examples of this level of completeness and quality remain exceptionally rare. The smaller, more fragile skeletons of young individuals are less likely to fossilize intact, and even fewer retain tusks in their natural alignment. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a scientifically significant, visually compelling, and investment-worthy fossil from one of the most celebrated creatures of the Ice Age. Suitable for immediate display, yet scaled for inclusion in private or institutional collections without requiring an entire room dedicated to such. This Pleistocene relic will be sold to the highest bidder, without reserve.