Diggin’ Up Bones

 

The Carroll County Mastodon Dig

 

In the early 1970s, Carroll County’s largest (and possibly its only) prehistoric find was unearthed near the Harmony Community located close to the Carroll/Leflore County line.  Without repeating the contents of the following articles, I have presented them below.

 

 

 

Article 1 – March 2, 1972

 

Article 2 – March 16, 1972

 

Article 3 – July 16, 1972

 

CLICK HERE to see what the Mastodon would have looked like

 

The Mastodon is on display at the Cottonlandia Museum in Greenwood, MS.   The museum has graciously granted me permission to take digital photos of the display, which will be forthcoming in the very near future.  In addition, the museum provided me with an article from the Forestry Forum, (Pp. 16, 30) describing the find.  No dates or other cites appear on the article, and it is presented as it was sent to me, with nothing omitted, except parts of an unrelated article that appeared on page 30.

 

Forestry Forum, P. 16, Date Unknown (Part 1)

 

Forestry Forum, P. 30, Date Unknown (Part 2 – Continued from P. 16)

 

Cottonlandia Museum Description of the Carroll County Mastodon

 

 

In addition, the museum forwarded two Web Site addresses concerning comparative information between elephants and the mastodons/mammoths of the past.  They are entitled as follows: Mastodons, Ancestors of Elephants, by Beverly Eschberger, November 5, 1999, which can be found at http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4003/28213, and Mammoths, Mastodons, and Elephants, also by Beverly Eschberger, October 29, 1999, which can be found at http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4003/27944.

 

UPDATE: On June 3, 2002, I finally had a chance to visit the Cottonlandia Museum in Greenwood.  If you have not been there, GO !  The museum is fantastic, and would put many museums twice its size to shame.  I immediately felt at home when I entered the front door, and was treated like family while I was there.  It would be well worth the trip from 200 miles away, and it is a great way to spend an afternoon (or morning).  Due to time constraints, I was only able to stay an hour or so, and could have easily spent three or four hours looking around.  The staff is excellent, and it is a great place to visit.  Pictures of the mastodon remains are listed below.

 

 

THE COTTONLANDIA MUSEUM MASTODON DISPLAY

 

Photo 1   Photo 2   Photo 3

 

Photo 4   Photo 5   Photo 6

 

Depiction of Mastodon Skeleton

 

Depiction of Mastodon Hunters

 

 

Cottonlandia Brochure (Outside)

 

Cottonlandia Brochure (Inside)