Lehner Mammoth-Kill Site

The Lehner Mammoth-Kill Site is an archaeological location near the San Pedro River where remains of twelve young mammoths were found along with bones from horses, tapirs, and bison. The site sits on private land and reveals evidence of ancient human hunting activities.

Rancher Ed Lehner discovered bone fragments and ancient tools on his property in 1952, sparking extensive archaeological excavations over the following decades. These investigations proved crucial to understanding early human settlement in North America.

The site shows how hunters lived and worked around 11,000 years ago through the tools and bones they left behind. You can see evidence of how they tracked, killed, and prepared large animals for food.

The excavation site is located on Lehner Road, roughly two miles north of Palominas Road and State Highway 92, with parking available nearby. The land is privately managed but allows public access to view this historically important area.

The site was among the first places where ancient fire hearths were found together with hunting tools and animal bones in a single location. This gave archaeologists an uncommon glimpse into the daily activities of these early hunters.