The Largest mammoth, Weifang Mammoth occurs
August 12th of this year is the 13th World Elephant Day.
Do you know "Weifang Mammoth"? It's not a ordinary elephant that we usually see in zoo. Weifang Mammoth was live in the Middle Pleistocene. As the largest mammoth, It is also a new species of mammoth that human ever found.
一、“潍坊象”化石发现过程
DISCOVERY PROCESS
In March 1979, when the Wujia villagers of Wangliu Commune of Weixian County (now Weicheng District of Weifang) dug a well, it was suspected that animal bones were fossils, and Yang Chuande, the cultural relic researcher of Weixian Cultural Center, rushed to the scene immediately after hearing the news.
After the investigation, it was reported step by step, and Jin Changzhu (currently a researcher of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), Sun Wenshu (technician), Yang Chuande and Sun Jingming (currently a chief expert of Shandong Museum and a special researcher of Weifang Museum) of the cultural relics Group of Changwei Area Art Museum to jointly clean up and excavate the site.
The excavation work lasted for more than 1 month, while carrying out geological and paleontological investigations in the surrounding area, a giant elephant fossil buried deep underground was finally rediscovered.
二、“潍坊象”化石学术研究
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
The fossil is huge, with its incisors measuring 3.05 meters long and its ribs 1.27 meters long. Viewed from the back of the skull, the maximum transverse diameter is 1.09 m.
According to expert research, it is a young male individual of the late species of mammoth, living in the late Middle Pleistocene about 100,000 to 200,000 years ago, representing a new species of mammoth and named it "Weifang Mammoth".
Due to the low technology and stretched funds at that time, the "Weifang Mammoth" fossil had been only preserved and not been restored until the end of 2023.
Weifang City Museum invited the domestic paleontological experts to hold the academic seminar, invited the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and paleoanthropology experts to conduct "Weifang Mammoth" special lecture, and went to Nanjing Normal University to confirm the age of "Weifang Mammoth" fossil by uranium specimen dating.
All experiences proved that "Weifang Mammoth" is currently the world's largest mammoth. As a new type of in the world, the unique "Weifang Mammoth" carrying great scientific research, historical and cultural value, and endows Weifang a different charming attraction.
三、“潍坊象”化石活化利用
ACTIVATION UTILIZATION
In order to vitalize the "Weifang mammoth" fossil in the new era, and promote “Weifang mammoth” as the world's historical and cultural symbols and new signs of urban culture of Weifang. Weifang City Culture and Tourism Bureau jointed Weifang City Museum designed the "Weifang Mammoth" IP cartoon image and developed a series of cultural and creative merchandises according to its characteristics and auspicious meaning,
"Weifang mammoth" as a unique urban gift will help to enhance the city's taste, enrich and better the city image of Weifang, and create an urban cultural IP for Weifang to communicate with the world.
