Enhancing Public Interpretation of Columbian Mammoth Fossils in the EWU Geosciences Paleontological Collections
Faculty Mentor
Lindsay MacKenzie
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-14-2026 9:00 AM
End Date
4-14-2026 11:00 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Geosciences
Abstract
Fossil displays carry educational importance by re-assembling Earth’s history and inspiring curiosity of evolution and extinct species. One such species, the Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), has fossil remains extending across North America (southern Canada-central Mexico), first appearing ~1.5 million years ago and becoming extinct approximately 11,000 years ago. This massive prehistoric mammal played a vital role in shaping and maintaining North American grassland habitats and has contributed significantly to our understanding of modern elephant evolution, genetics, and behavior. These fossils were recognized as being important in Washington state, and in 1998 the Columbian mammoth was designated as our state fossil. The Eastern Washington University Geosciences Paleontological Collections (EWUGPC) houses numerous bones of the Columbian mammoth, some of which are displayed on the ground floor of the Interdisciplinary Science Center (ISC). This display currently features material originally discovered and donated by Harold McQuillan from his property near Cheney, Washington, in June 1950. The bones on display consist of a scapula, humerus, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, teeth, lumbar, ilium, femur, patella, ribs, and tarsals. Additional material is available within the EWUGPC. In its current form, the display is rudimentary and lacking sufficient information. The goal of this research project, and part of a capstone senior thesis, is to augment this rudimentary display by making it more visually engaging and incorporating additional extensive scientific information on the mammoth. This will include a redesign of the fossil layout and implementing QR codes linking to a new EWUGPC fossil collection website to educate students, university members, and community visitors.
Recommended Citation
Kovpak, Veronica, "Enhancing Public Interpretation of Columbian Mammoth Fossils in the EWU Geosciences Paleontological Collections" (2026). 2026 Symposium. 10.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2026/ps_2026/p1_2026/10
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Enhancing Public Interpretation of Columbian Mammoth Fossils in the EWU Geosciences Paleontological Collections
PUB NCR
Fossil displays carry educational importance by re-assembling Earth’s history and inspiring curiosity of evolution and extinct species. One such species, the Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), has fossil remains extending across North America (southern Canada-central Mexico), first appearing ~1.5 million years ago and becoming extinct approximately 11,000 years ago. This massive prehistoric mammal played a vital role in shaping and maintaining North American grassland habitats and has contributed significantly to our understanding of modern elephant evolution, genetics, and behavior. These fossils were recognized as being important in Washington state, and in 1998 the Columbian mammoth was designated as our state fossil. The Eastern Washington University Geosciences Paleontological Collections (EWUGPC) houses numerous bones of the Columbian mammoth, some of which are displayed on the ground floor of the Interdisciplinary Science Center (ISC). This display currently features material originally discovered and donated by Harold McQuillan from his property near Cheney, Washington, in June 1950. The bones on display consist of a scapula, humerus, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, teeth, lumbar, ilium, femur, patella, ribs, and tarsals. Additional material is available within the EWUGPC. In its current form, the display is rudimentary and lacking sufficient information. The goal of this research project, and part of a capstone senior thesis, is to augment this rudimentary display by making it more visually engaging and incorporating additional extensive scientific information on the mammoth. This will include a redesign of the fossil layout and implementing QR codes linking to a new EWUGPC fossil collection website to educate students, university members, and community visitors.
