Construction crews building a new shopping center in Oceanside have turned up something that is exciting
local paleontologists.

The remains of an ancient mammoth were discovered Monday at the future site of the Old Grove Marketplace at Highway 76
and Old Grove Road.

So far, a team of paleontologists have unearthed a tusk and parts of the animal´s head, vertebrae and ribs, plus molars the size of
footballs.

Brad Riney of the San Diego Natural History Museum says tusk, which is nearly ten feet long, is one of the best he´s ever
seen.

Paleontologists say the Oceanside area of the San Luis Rey River Valley is rich with ancient fossils. Mammoths, saber-tooth cats and other
animals roamed the flood plain between 100-thousand and 300-thousand years ago.