Step into the world of the Ice Age with this Woolly Mammoth Molar Slice, a beautifully prepared section of Mammuthus primigenius from Alaska. Its exposed surface displays an intricate network of elongated enamel and dentine plates, with contrasting cream, golden brown, grey and dark mineralised tones creating a naturally patterned appearance.
The remarkable layering visible across this Woolly Mammoth Molar Slice reflects the specialised construction of mammoth teeth, which evolved to withstand years of intensive grinding. Fine natural fractures run through the fossil, adding character while also revealing the complexity of the original tooth structure. The specimen has been cut, polished and stabilised with resin for preservation and display.
Specimen Details
Fossil: Woolly Mammoth molar, Mammuthus primigenius
Locality: Alaska, USA
Geological Age: Pleistocene / Ice Age
Preparation: Cut, polished and stabilised with resin
Prepared by: Miles Martin, Miles of Alaska
Size: 81mm x 30mm x 7mm
Weight: 29 grams
The Architecture of a Mammoth Tooth
A Woolly Mammoth's molars were remarkable pieces of natural engineering. Rather than having a simple solid tooth structure, the grinding surface was formed from numerous plates of enamel and softer dentine arranged in repeating layers.
As the mammoth chewed, the softer dentine wore away slightly faster than the harder enamel, creating the ridged grinding surface needed to break down tough grasses and other vegetation. The cross-section of this Woolly Mammoth Molar Slice provides an unusual opportunity to see this structure from within.
Colours Created by Time and Mineralisation
The muted cream and honey tones of the original tooth are complemented by darker grey, brown and greenish mineralised areas. These variations developed during the fossilisation process and give the specimen its distinctive appearance.
The extensive banding is particularly attractive in this piece, with long horizontal layers following the natural architecture of the original mammoth molar. Every fracture, colour variation and mineralised section contributes to its individual character.
A Window Into Alaskan Prehistory
During the Pleistocene, Alaska was part of Beringia, a vast region connecting northeastern Asia with North America. Its cold, dry grasslands supported Woolly Mammoths alongside a remarkable community of other Ice Age animals.
This Woolly Mammoth Molar Slice offers a tangible connection to that lost ecosystem. Rather than simply displaying a fragment of an extinct animal, it allows you to examine one of the specialised adaptations that helped mammoths survive and thrive in the demanding environments of the Ice Age.
Prepared by Mr Miles Martin of Miles of Alaska
Mr Miles Martin is an experienced Alaskan fossil hunter and craftsman whose work has focused extensively on Alaska's natural history. He reports hunting Ice Age fossils since 1972, including mammoth remains, and has developed extensive experience in cutting and stabilising fossil materials.
His Miles of Alaska work combines fossil hunting, preparation and craftsmanship, transforming remarkable pieces of Alaskan natural history into specimens suitable for collectors and display.
