Aizpute museum displays unique 43,000-year-old mammoth bone

The Aizpute museum has added a mammoth leg bone fossil, over 40,000 years old, to its permanent exhibition, confirming that mammoths once roamed the surrounding area in ancient times.

The fossil was discovered near Misiņkalns, just a few hundred meters from the museum building. For decades, however, the find remained largely unknown, sitting forgotten on a shelf at the Ventspils Seaside Open-Air Museum.

A significant discovery

Only after thorough examination did experts determine the true significance of the find: it is now regarded as one of the largest and most valuable mammoth fossils held in any Latvian museum. At roughly 43,000 years old, the bone indicates that mammoths inhabited the Kurzeme region during the Ice Age.

The bone has since been transferred to the Aizpute museum and incorporated into its permanent display, giving visitors the chance to learn more about Latvia's ancient natural history and the region's role in paleontological finds.