Mammoth premolar.

Mammoth premolar.
10000 years old.
Measurements: 13 x 21 x 6 cm.

Mammoths were close relatives of modern elephants and inhabited various regions of the world during the Pleistocene. They became extinct approximately 10,000 years ago, although some isolated populations survived until 4,000 years ago in places like Wrangel Island. Mammoth molars and premolars were large, flat and ridged with grooved ridges, designed to grind grass and hard branches. Over its lifetime, a mammoth had six sets of teeth that were replaced as they wore down. Over time, mammoth teeth can fossilize and mineralize, becoming valuable pieces of study. Mammoth premolars and molars have been found in Siberia, North America and Europe. These fossils help to study the diet and migratory habits of mammoths.