MAMMOTH OF A DONATION: THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INTERNS TOWARD THE DONATION AND CURATION OF A MAMMOTH HERD AT WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL MONUMENT (WACO, TEXAS, USA)

Waco Mammoth National Monument (WMNM) is a late Pleistocene fossil site located outside of the city of Waco, Texas. Since its discovery in 1978, this lagerstätte has produced the remains of nearly twenty Columbian mammoths (Mammuthus columbi) and other charismatic megafauna excavated by representatives of Baylor University (BU). Initial excavations (1978-1990) uncovered the only known Columbian mammoth nursery herd (~16 individuals), while a second excavation uncovered four more mammoths and a camel (Camelops hesternus). In 2015, WMNM became a unit of the National Park Service (NPS), with legislation mandating that all fossil specimens and associated materials be donated to the NPS and cataloged into the NPS database. Excavated specimens and fragmented bone segments were housed in 1500+ boxes at BU’s Mayborn Museum Complex, with approximately 350 articulated specimens remaining in situ at WMNM. Over the last four years, four Scientists in Parks, two Mosaics in Science, and three Conservation Legacy interns prepared the collections for donation and curation. Tasks included a detailed inventory of specimens and jackets with photographs (2021), cataloging in situ specimens (2022), identifying non-mammoth material (2023), and contextualizing archival photographs (2024). Work during the summer of 2024 started by assisting the Mayborn Museum collections manager with the inventory of archival photographs and slides. Over 2000 photographs from 1978-2002 were examined, and several mammoths were identified using field maps and other sources. These photographs also guided the preparation of more fragmented specimens by reuniting pieces that had lost stratigraphic context during episodes of flash flooding. Specimens were reconstructed from multiple unassociated cabinets, with many missing a considerable number of smaller fragments. The size of the specimens and degree of fragmentation required novel methods of fossil preparation to ensure the specimens were properly conserved. Working alongside WMNM’s paleontologist and a BU Ph.D. candidate, interns used kozo paper to support large bones and fill missing pieces. These efforts from dedicated interns resulted in the documentation and preservation of WMNM fossil material that is held in the public trust.