A remarkable discovery in south Louisiana is offering scientists a new glimpse into the state’s prehistoric past after a landowner uncovered fossilized mammoth remains on his property in Acadia Parish.

Curt Matte made the discovery while digging a pond and contacted researchers at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for help identifying the fossils.

Dr. Jennifer Hargrave, director of the university’s Science Museum and a paleontologist, confirmed that the remains include portions of a mammoth’s lower jaw and teeth, along with what researchers believe may be tusks. Scientists suspect additional bones could still be buried at the site.

The discovery is particularly significant because mammoth fossils are relatively uncommon in southern Louisiana. During the Ice Age, the region was home to enormous mammals, including mammoths, mastodons and giant ground sloths.

Researchers hope the newly discovered fossils will help them better understand the animals that once roamed Louisiana and the prehistoric environments in which they lived.

The exact age of the remains has not yet been determined, and further research is expected as scientists continue examining the discovery.