Prehistoric animal bones found in Prineville

(NOVEMBER 8, 2019) Mammoths and mastodons were prehistoric animals. They lived in America until 10,000 years ago. They were like elephants; they had tusks and trunks.

While no one sees a mammoth or mastodon alive today, sometimes we find old bones from these animals. That is what happened to Reid Comstock in March. He works in a gravel pit in Prineville.

Comstock was operating earth-moving equipment when he saw something unusual poking out of the ground. He found a tusk, cranium, and other bones. He called his boss about the discovery, and then they contacted Eastern Oregon University for help.

University faculty and students helped to dig up and identify the bones. They will continue to study the bones at the college in La Grande. Later, the bones will be on display to the public.

The discovery excited Comstock. He says, "“We have a lot more digging out there so who knows what we’ll find next."