Mammoth fossils in a museum were later identified as whale bones.

Two bones held for more than 70 years as woolly mammoth remains at the University of Alaska Museum of the North were radiocarbon-dated and identified by isotope analysis and mitochondrial DNA as belonging to a minke whale and a North Pacific right whale.

Two fossil plates long catalogued as woolly mammoth material at the University of Alaska Museum of the North have been reidentified after recent testing. The specimens were recovered in Alaska in 1951 and remained in the museum archive for over 70 years. Researchers led by Matthew Wooller of the University of Alaska Fairbanks applied radiocarbon dating, stable isotope analysis and mitochondrial DNA sequencing to the bones. Their results were published in the Journal of Quaternary Science. Key findings: - The two specimens are epiphyseal plates found in 1951 and kept in the museum archive for more than 70 years. - The museum’s Adopt-a-Mammoth program prompted renewed testing of the material. - Radiocarbon dating returned ages of about 2,000 to 3,000 years, which is too recent for woolly mammoth remains. - Stable isotope results showed higher nitrogen and carbon values consistent with marine diets rather than land herbivores. - Mitochondrial DNA analysis identified the bones as coming from a minke whale and a North Pacific right whale. - Researchers reported several possible explanations for the inland find locations, including river or inlet transport, human movement of remains, or mislabeling of the original find site. Summary: The reidentification alters the record for those archived specimens and illustrates how modern analyses can change earlier classifications. The work began through a public museum program and combined dating, isotope chemistry and DNA to reach its conclusions. Undetermined at this time.