Mammoth tusks. Their value and extraction

The article describes the scope of application of mammoth tusks, where and how they are extracted, who are such mammoths and why they died out.

Ancient times

Life on Earth has been estimated by scientists for more than 3 billion years, and during this time many species of living organisms have changed from invertebrate inhabitants of the ancient oceans to dinosaurs. Their remains in one form or another have come down to our times through the process of petrification. But there is one more kind of ancient animals whose bodies were preserved despite a huge period of time, and these are mammoths.

Contrary to popular belief, mammoth tusks were not weapons, but served him as an instrument for the extraction of pasture. The last representatives of this species died out about 10 thousand years ago, in those days when a reasonable man was already entering his rights on Earth. However, thanks to numerous finds of well-preserved remains of giants, scientists know a lot about mammoths. And the tusks of these giants are of interest not only for researchers of the once-existing fauna.

What are they needed for?

The answer to this question is simple: it's all about profit. Due to the good preservation of the mammoth tusks are highly valued in the black market: they make a lot of things from souvenirs and animal figurines to real works of art that are estimated at millions of dollars. But how can bone survive if it has been buried in the ground for tens of thousands of years?

The whole thing is in the natural conditions of Siberia. Because of permafrost, the remains are not subjected to petrification, being all this time in a natural "refrigerator". Also, excellent conditions for them are the channels of swamped rivers and marshes. Without access to oxygen, the process of development of bacteria and rot is minimal there, so the mammoth tusks remain so well.

Who extracts them and where does it sell?

The remains of these once living giants can be found all over the world, but they are especially common in Europe and Siberia. The most "fish" place for paleontologists and "black seekers" is Yakutia. The area, covered with marshy tundra, can not be better suited to preserve the representatives of ancient fauna. The remains of mammoths are extracted from the exposed layers of permafrost, washed out coastal areas and swamps.

This process is very complex, laborious and dangerous, and local people are engaged in it. It is noteworthy that after each discovery they conduct rituals to praise the spirits in which they believe.

According to some sources, the value of high-quality tusks on the black market is from 25 thousand rubles. So the remains of mammoths for the inhabitants of those parts are a very good help, so they are engaged in this whole village.

Legality

Naturally, such activities are illegal, and scientists have long been alarmed by the fact that they are deprived of research material. Of course, you can argue that there are many tusks, but nevertheless, finding them all is more difficult. The question arises: why is this not watched by law enforcement? Probably, in view of the vast territories, it is extremely difficult to control this region.

Lost and found areas

As already mentioned, the most common mammoth tusks are found in Siberia. But there were giants all over the world, there are only three groups - Asian, American, and intercontinental. Fragments of mammoth tusks are often found in North America and around the Scandinavian countries. But their safety is much worse than that of the Siberian finds.

Why the mammoths died out

There are still disputes, why these ancient giants, who reached a height of 5 meters and weighed more than 10 tons, died out? What could threaten such a huge animal? Of course, and predators in those days were larger than the current, but still scientists offer two versions.

The first is the ice age. Mammoths were covered with thick wool and, unlike modern elephants, were not afraid of the cold. But in the conditions of harsh Siberia, the global cold snap seriously knocked down the population.

The second version is the influence of a person. In those days, people actively hunted giants, using cunning and various traps. Numerous excavations of mammoths in Russia and the parking of primitive people confirm that the latter very actively exterminated them.

Roast of mammoth

Among Siberian hunters, history has been very popular since time immemorial, about how a prey encounters the remains of a mammoth in permafrost, and in a natural "refrigerator" they were preserved so well that meat was cooked at the stake and eaten.

In fact, this is not true. The mammoth's flesh, after thousands of years in the earth, gradually loses collagen, and becomes a waxy substance unsuitable for food, and simply melts from heat treatment. But the legend is, no doubt, interesting. A similar story can be read in the book "Aelita" by Alexei Tolstoy.

Thus, giant animals, even through the layers of centuries, continue to excite human minds.