The Fascinating Archaeological Discovery That Put This Small Illinois College On The Map

I love history. Though, I would never expect to unearth a discovery over 10,000 years old — and certainly not on my college campus. Yet, that's exactly what happened to not one — but two — workers at a private university in the Prairie State. Illinois is full of incredible history, but the mammoth tusk discovered at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois is truly one for the ages.

Principia College is a small liberal arts college located about 45 minutes north of St. Louis on the Mississippi River.

In the fall of 2022, a facilities department employee spotted white bone-like fragments in the dirt while collecting soil for a construction project. Geologists from the Illinois State Museum were called in to inspect the fragments and discovered they were ivory pieces of a massive tusk.

The tusk is believed to be more than 10,000 years old.

It's expected the excavation could last several years, as radar scans have shown there is possibly more further down in the soil. In the meantime, the skeletal remains have a new name, "Mike," after the employee who discovered them.

Researchers believe the tusk belonged to either a wooly mammoth...

...or a mastodon.

Amazingly, it's not the first mammoth uncovered at the campus — in 1999 the tusks and head of "Benny" were discovered on site. The Ice Age mammoth is believed to be over 17,000 years old and was hiding only 6 feet down in the soil between two of the residence halls.

A class of 13 geology students found the bones, and it took 14 years to fully excavate and display them. Today, they are on display in the college's science building.

The mammoth bone sightings have put the small college on the map, and the school even placed a bench on the campus commemorating the incredible discovery.

So, did you know there was a mammoth tusk discovered at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois? What are some of the archaeological discoveries in Illinois that fascinate you? Any cool historical sites you recommend? Tell us in the comments! Learn more about Principia College's mammoth discovery here. And if you're interested in more archaeological discoveries in Illinois, check out the nearby mysterious Cahokia Mounds prehistoric site!