Discovering The Mammoth

Discover the fascinating story of how scientists came to understand one of the Ice Age’s most iconic animals. In Discovering the Mammoth, John J. McKay traces the journey from ancient interpretations of enormous bones and buried ivory to the scientific identification of mammoths and the development of paleontology. Drawing on historical documents, illustrations, and the stories of the people who investigated these mysterious remains, the book explores how changing ideas about fossils, extinction, anatomy, and Earth’s past transformed our understanding of the natural world.

Why You’ll Love This

• Explores the history of mammoth discoveries and the development of paleontology
• Reveals how mammoth remains were interpreted through mythology before the rise of the scientific method
• Follows discoveries from the 1690s through the recovery of frozen and complete mammoth remains
• Features a fascinating cast of historical figures, including Peter the Great and Benjamin Franklin
• Connects paleontology, history, geology, and the changing ways humans investigate scientific mysteries

Explore the remarkable story behind the mammoth and discover how studying the past helped shape the science of paleontology.