Discovering the Mammoth : A Tale of Giants, Unicorns, Ivory, and the Birth of a New Science

**The fascinating saga of solving the mystery of this ancient animal who once roamed the north country―and has captivated our collective imagination ever since.** Today, we know that a mammoth is an extinct type of elephant that was covered with long fur and lived in the north country during the ice ages. But how do you figure out what a mammoth is if you have no concept of extinction, ice ages, or fossils? Long after the last mammoth died and was no longer part of the human diet, it still played a role in human life. Cultures around the world interpreted the remains of mammoths through the lens of their own worldview and mythology. When the ancient Greeks saw deposits of giant fossils, they knew they had discovered the battle fields where the gods had vanquished the Titans. When the Chinese discovered buried ivory, they knew they had found dragons’ teeth. But as the Age of Reason dawned, monsters and giants gave way to the scientific method. Yet the mystery of these mighty bones remained. How did Enlightenment thinkers overcome centuries of myth and misunderstanding to reconstruct an unknown animal? The journey to unravel that puzzle begins in the 1690s with the arrival of new type of ivory on the European market bearing the exotic name "mammoth." It ends during the Napoleonic Wars with the first recovery of a frozen mammoth. The path to figuring out the mammoth was traveled by merchants, diplomats, missionaries, cranky doctors, collectors of natural wonders, Swedish POWs, Peter the Great, Ben Franklin, the inventor of hot chocolate, and even one pirate. McKay brings together dozens of original documents and illustrations, some ignored for centuries, to show how this odd assortment of characters solved the mystery of the mammoth and, in doing so, created the science of paleontology. 8 pages of color illustrations Today, We Know That A Mammoth Is An Extinct Type Of Elephant That Was Covered With Long Fur And Lived In The North Country During The Ice Ages. But How Do You Figure Out What A Mammoth Is If You Have No Concept Of Extinction, Ice Ages, Or Fossils? Long After The Last Mammoth Died And Was No Longer Part Of The Human Diet, It Still Played A Role In Human Life. Cultures Around The World Interpreted The Remains Of Mammoths Through The Lens Of Their Own Worldview And Mythology. When The Ancient Greeks Saw Deposits Of Giant Fossils, They Knew They Had Discovered The Battle Fields Where The Gods Had Vanquished The Titans. When The Chinese Discovered Buried Ivory, They Knew They Had Found Dragons' Teeth. But As The Age Of Reason Dawned, Monsters And Giants Gave Way To The Scientific Method. Yet The Mystery Of These Mighty Bones Remained. How Did Enlightenment Thinkers Overcome Centuries Of Myth And Misunderstanding To Reconstruct An Unknown Animal? The Journey To Unravel That Puzzle Begins In The 1690s With The Arrival Of New Type Of Ivory On The European Market Bearing The Exotic Name Mammoth. It Ends During The Napoleonic Wars With The First Recovery Of A Frozen Mammoth. The Path To Figuring Out The Mammoth Was Traveled By Merchants, Diplomats, Missionaries, Cranky Doctors, Collectors Of Natural Wonders, Swedish Pows, Peter The Great, Ben Franklin, The Inventor Of Hot Chocolate, And Even One Pirate. Mckay Brings Together Dozens Of Original Documents And Illustrations, Some Ignored For Centuries, To Show How This Odd Assortment Of Characters Solved The Mystery Of The Mammoth And, In Doing So, Created The Science Of Paleontology.--jacket. Introduction -- Giants And Unicorns -- The Ivory Trail -- Eastern Travelers -- The Swedes -- Academies And Journals -- The American Cousin -- Siberia And Paris -- The First Great Mammoth -- Afterword. John J. Mckay. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Today, we know that a mammoth is an extinct type of elephant that was covered with long fur and lived in the north country during the ice ages. But how do you figure out what a mammoth is if you have no concept of extinction, ice ages, or fossils? Long after the last mammoth died and was no longer part of the human diet, it still played a role in human life. Cultures around the world interpreted the remains of mammoths through the lens of their own worldview and mythology. When the ancient Greeks saw deposits of giant fossils, they knew they had discovered the battle fields where the gods had vanquished the Titans. When the Chinese discovered buried ivory, they knew they had found dragons' teeth. But as the Age of Reason dawned, monsters and giants gave way to the scientific method. Yet the mystery of these mighty bones remained. How did Enlightenment thinkers overcome centuries of myth and misunderstanding to reconstruct an unknown animal? The journey to unravel that puzzle begins in the 1690s with the arrival of new type of ivory on the European market bearing the exotic name "mammoth." It ends during the Napoleonic Wars with the first recovery of a frozen mammoth. The path to figuring out the mammoth was traveled by merchants, diplomats, missionaries, cranky doctors, collectors of natural wonders, Swedish POWs, Peter the Great, Ben Franklin, the inventor of hot chocolate, and even one pirate. McKay brings together dozens of original documents and illustrations, some ignored for centuries, to show how this odd assortment of characters solved the mystery of the mammoth and, in doing so, created the science of paleontology."--Dust jacket. "Today, we know that a mammoth is an extinct type of elephant that was covered with long fur and lived in the north country during the ice ages. But how do you figure out what a mammoth is if you have no concept of extinction, ice ages, or fossils? Long after the last mammoth died and was no longer part of the human diet, it still played a role in human life. Cultures around the world interpreted the remains of mammoths through the lens of their own worldview and mythology. When the ancient Greeks saw deposits of giant fossils, they knew they had discovered the battle fields where the gods had vanquished the Titans. When the Chinese discovered buried ivory, they knew they had found dragons' teeth. But as the Age of Reason dawned, monsters and giants gave way to the scientific method. Yet the mystery of these mighty bones remained. How did Enlightenment thinkers overcome centuries of myth and misunderstanding to reconstruct an unknown animal? The journey to unravel that puzzle begins in the 1690s with the arrival of new type of ivory on the European market bearing the exotic name "mammoth." It ends during the Napoleonic Wars with the first recovery of a frozen mammoth. The path to figuring out the mammoth was traveled by merchants, diplomats, missionaries, cranky doctors, collectors of natural wonders, Swedish POWs, Peter the Great, Ben Franklin, the inventor of hot chocolate, and even one pirate. McKay brings together dozens of original documents and illustrations, some ignored for centuries, to show how this odd assortment of characters solved the mystery of the mammoth and, in doing so, created the science of paleontology."-- Dust jacket The fascinating saga of solving the mystery of this ancient animal who once roamed the north countryand has captivated our collective imagination ever since. Long after the last mammoth died and was no longer part of our diet, this awe inspiring creature still played a role in human life. Cultures around the world interpreted the remains of mammoths through their own world view and mythology. When the ancient Greeks saw deposits of giant fossils, they knew they had discovered where the gods had vanquished the titans. When the Chinese discovered buried ivory, they knew they had found dragons teeth. But as the Age of Reason dawned, monsters and giants gave way to the scientific method. Yet the mystery of these mighty bones remained. How did Enlightenment thinkers overcame centuries of myth and misunderstanding to reconstruct an unknown animal? The journey to unravel that puzzle begins in the 1690s with the arrival of new type of ivory from Russia. It ends during the Napoleonic Wars with the first recovery of a frozen mammoth. The path to figuring out the mammoth was traveled by a colorful cast of characters, including Peter the Great, Ben Franklin, the inventor of hot chocolate, even one pirate, and it culminates with the creation of the science of paleontology.