Mammoth Ivory

I wonder if a lot of so-called mammoth ivory is really elephant ivory that has been named this to get around export and import restrictions on elephant ivory?
 
cognitivefun said:
I wonder if a lot of so-called mammoth ivory is really elephant ivory that has been named this to get around export and import restrictions on elephant ivory?
Click to expand...


Yes, that is also possible of course, a way to sell elephant ivory "legally".
On the other hand there seems to be som much from mammoths so maybe they wouldn't have to do that.
 
I do not know a lot about this, but I know a little. Here goes. The pattern that is on all ivory is very different between the prehistoric ivories (mammoth and mastadon) and elephant ivory. Also most prehistoric ivories have picked up "color" from being in the ground for a very long time! This color is from minerals soaking in to the ivory...I would think that would be pretty difficult to fake.

There is a lot of this ivory out there. I personaly have seen several hundred tusk all together. Most of which took two people to handle.

Mammoth and mastodon ivory is better than elephant ivory in my opinion! It has better color/figure usually and has already done most of its shrinking/cracking. It seems to be a more stable ivory in my opinion.

Tom
 
Tom is right. Even though they're not making any more mammoths, there are literally tons of bones out there, even quite extensively so in Siberia. The mammoth population used to be huge, and they haven't been gone long enough for the bones to really fossilize or disappear.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top