Tusk of a mammoth: extraction of mammoth tusks, products from a mammoth tusk

Demand for the mammoth tusk is around the world. In Russia there is a fairly large stock of this material. It has about a few hundred tons. Despite such a huge amount, archaeologists do not stop, but continue to look for where to find the mammoth tusk.

Are there cases of successful excavations aimed at finding the bones of a mammoth?

Every year, the warehouse is replenished by approximately several tens of tons. There were a variety of finds. The largest of them can be identified: their length is 4-4.5 meters, diameter 1.8-1.9 decimeters.

Weight mammoth tusk can be 0,1-0,11 tons. In Africa, researchers found this part of the skeleton of an elephant that weighed 0.095 tons.

Mammoth bone resting near water bodies

Where is the extraction of mammoth tusks? As a rule, they are dug out near the former reservoirs, because the animals reached for sources of moisture. Also on the mammoth tusk you can stumble somewhere in a ravine or deep on a river bottom.

The Siberian region is extremely rich in this artifact, because the North is a very favorable habitat for the animal, where it was not hot in a dense and thick coat. Siberia gives the scientific light of archeology to thousands of mammoth tusks. More precisely, they annually find about 20,000-35,000 kilograms.

Russia - the house of mammoths

Studying the statistics of archaeological excavations, you can catch yourself thinking that on the lands of today's Russia the mammoths liked very much, and it was more than comfortable, because the number of finds simply amazes with its abundance. Moreover, not only the northern part of Siberia was their home, as it might seem at first glance.

The mammoth tusk was rich in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The overwhelming number of successful excavations took place on the territory of the Ob and Yakutia. Thus, it is understandable why the Yakuts and Tobolites in this respect had items from the mammoth tusk.

Masters created small sculptures, boxes, stands for watches, combs. These things consisted entirely of bone. Everyone wanted to decorate his neck with such a thing, as an amulet from a tusk of a mammoth.

The land on which the glorious city of Arkhangelsk now stands is also famous for its fertility for archaeological values. They also made jewelry and items that were used in everyday life from mammoth bones. Performed by their skillful Kholmogory masters.

Extraction of valuable artifacts

Getting a tusk of a mammoth is an interesting and profitable occupation, but not easy. The bottom of the river is the most frequent location of this material. Or else it's a swamp or a tundra. In a word, you can not get out of the water in the literal sense of the word. And you have to get your hands dirty, but for what purpose! Extraction is still half the battle. When the seeker of artifacts is happy with the find, the following task appears before him: now this raw material needs to be delivered to the processing point. During construction and archaeological excavations, as well as when geological surveys are underway, it is really possible to stumble upon a mammoth tusk. The photo gives an idea of what size and shape they have.

This often occurs in the territory of Chukotka, in the north of Yakutia, on the Tyumen lands. Since bone carving was a folk art and was popular in the north of that part of Russia that enters Europe, and in Siberia until the twentieth century, many examples of a mammoth's tusk treatment workshop have accumulated.

Which bones are suitable for work?

There are no special requirements and harsh conditions that would limit the freedom in choosing the material that will later be turned into an excellent product. Bone can be chosen at your discretion.

Mainly used the following types of materials:

1. Horns of deer, moose, cows and marals are quite suitable for processing. They are strong, and the products of them serve a long time. You can take the horn of any ungulate animal.
2. For these purposes, not only horns are suitable. Camels, cows and horses have good tubular bones that can be used safely. The main condition - the animal must be large, ungulate.
3. Mammoths and elephants are excellent "suppliers" of tusks for further artistic processing.
4. Potential "supplier" of bone is also a sperm whale, and to be precise - its tooth is valuable.
5. Walruses can make considerable competition with their fangs.
6. A rhinoceros is an animal that can truly be proud of what yawns on his forehead. In the same way, every master is proud, to whom the horn of this strong animal falls into the hands for processing.
7. Narwhal is another individual, whose bone is the best for making beautiful and useful products.

What are the limitations?

There are regulations, the text of which includes restricting or completely prohibiting the sale of horns of animals such as the narwhal, rhinoceros. Sperm whale sale is also limited.

Since 2002, the United Nations has banned the sale of elephant bones. What then is legal? Sell mammoth tusks, as well as the sale of horns of artiodactyls. These prohibitions are introduced in order to prevent cruel killings of animals for profit, so this does not apply to long-disappeared mammoths, because they have not existed for 10 thousand years among the existing species of fauna. Their bone can be safely used and exported. The only but important detail: it is necessary to issue a document authorizing the extraction and exportation abroad.

But still, working with a mammoth tusk is much easier than with an elephant bone or walrus tusk. These are justified restrictions, preventing damage to nature, insuring animal life from poaching. The blessing in Siberia is still a lot of rivers, in the soil of which mammoth bones rest, so that now living elephants can safely pluck the weed at the watering hole and not survive beyond measure.

Advantages of mammoth tusks

They are deservedly valued above all other similar substitutes. This material is plastic and beautiful. But for this you have to pay, so that it is estimated higher. It is not so easy to process, but it serves conscientiously and for a long time.

This material is solid, it has very little emptiness, the mass can be considered almost uniform. Since the dimensions can be very large, it is possible to cut out a large sculpture. In order to process the mammoth tusk, you need a cutter. When you cut the eyes of the sculptor, you open a picture of a beautiful mesh. The appearance of the product is very effective, whatever the way of processing. Artifact paint, polish and etch. We know about the hardness of amber, pearl and coral. So, the mammoth bones are not inferior to them at all.

Analogs and Substitutes

If we talk about the crochet, it has a tubular structure. And here already the sculptor has less scope for the scope of fantasy. Some carvers prefer it because of the fact that it costs less. Russians use most often a cow's forge, Asians borrow this material from camels. There are also such craftsmen who, thanks to their craftsmanship, give out a cheap substitute for a tusk of a mammoth. Although a trained eye will notice the difference in two counts.

He has a yellowish or brown, irregular color. On the tusk you can notice the one-year rings. Perhaps you've seen something like this on a section of a wooden trunk. So be extremely careful when buying products from the mammoth's tusk. To protect yourself from buying a fake, consult with professionals. This will avoid a waste of money.