Mammoth Remains May Have Been Disturbed
Written by Andrew-Rossi on April 20, 2018
The Bureau of Reclamation is investigating whether or not fossil remains of a mammoth uncovered at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir may have been disturbed before the find was reported to federal agents.
The bureau received reports of possible pre-historic mammal remains being located on Reclamation land near Cody on Tuesday, April 17. The fossil remains are believed to be from a mammoth and include rib elements, vertebral elements, and a number of other bones.
But according to Lyle Myler, deputy area manager for the Bureau’s Wyoming Area Office, a special agent for the bureau determined that the site may have been disturbed, which is against federal law.
The remains were uncovered as a result of Buffalo Bill Reservoir decreasing in storage as part of normal reservoir operations, in anticipation of well above average watershed. But due to the location of the remains, Myler says Reclamation and the Wyoming State Archaeologist are working to remove the materials before the reservoir rises from spring snowmelt.
