Waco Mammoth Dig Shelter

Waco Mammoth Dig Shelter is a large covered facility that protects fossils from an ancient Ice Age site. An elevated walkway lets visitors view the bones up close while walking through the preserved excavation area.

Workers discovered mammoth bones near the Bosque River in 1978, prompting scientists to begin systematic excavations. Over the following decades, teams uncovered remains of approximately 22 mammoths and other Ice Age animals at this location.

The site serves as a learning space where visitors encounter how scientists study ancient life. The fossil displays help people connect with the deep past of North America and understand the animals that once roamed the continent.

Visitors must join guided tours that depart from the Welcome Center to enter the covered excavation area. The facility is climate-controlled and offers seating, restrooms, and basic amenities throughout the site.

The site holds the remains of a herd of young mammoths that died approximately 65,000 years ago. This grouping of fossils shows a rare example of how these animals lived and perished together.

Location: Waco

GPS coordinates: 31.60584,-97.17432

Latest update: December 15, 2025 13:22