Skeletal remains of three mammoths discovered in Brno city centre

Archaeologists from the Moravian city of Brno have reported an unprecedented discovery. During a rescue excavation in the broader city center, they unearthed the bones of at least three mammoths, alongside remains from other animals. They also discovered tools from prehistoric people who hunted these animals approximately 15,000 years ago.

Stool of a juvenile woolly mammoth found in Brno|Photo: Archaia Brno

During the rescue excavation near Brno’s city centre, the archaeologists uncovered skeletal remains of at least three mammoths, specifically teeth, two shoulder blades, and a thigh bone. These bones likely belonged to some of the last mammoths in this region. In addition to the bones, they also found tools used by hunters from the early Stone Age.

Although Paleolithic items have been uncovered in this area before, the number of bones found on this occasion took archaeologists by surprise, as Lenka Sedláčková, head of Archaia Brno, which conducted the research, explained:

A cut-out from the aerial map with the most important places with the findings of the last mammoth hunters in Brno|Photo: Archaia Brno

“We can say that this was indeed a place where mammoth hunters lived and processed the animals they hunted right here. This is particularly unique because we’re in the center of a built-up city area, making finds of this nature relatively rare, as they are often already destroyed by urban development.”

Lenka Sedláčková|Photo: Czech Television

Analysis of objects previously found at the same location suggests that these artefacts are about 15,000 years old, dating back to the end of the Late Ice Age.

“At this time, the climate was already changing and warming, so it was long assumed that mammoths no longer lived in this region, having started to migrate further north. However, thanks in part to our discoveries, it now appears that mammoths did still live here in this late period, though not in such great numbers as before.”

Archaeological research in Brno on Vídeňská Street|Photo: Archaia Brno

Through earlier research, archaeologists are aware that, along with mammoths, these prehistoric people also hunted animals like rhinos, reindeer, horses, wolves, and foxes. The discovery of their tools reinforces their theory that this was a large Paleolithic settlement, as Ms. Sedláčková explained:

The stone tools and blades found were made from flint|Photo: Archaia Brno

“We’re talking about the Stone Age, so the tools were primarily made of stone. These ones were made from flint and chert. People back then had to bring the raw material to their settlement, then use a special hammerstone to chip off pieces and make tools. Scrapers, cutters, and in our case, specialized cutting tools were made, which they used for tasks such as cutting bones, hides, and possibly wood.”

The newly discovered objects are now slated for expert analysis by the Moravian Museum in Brno, and in 2026, they will be displayed for public viewing at an exhibition in the Anthropos Pavilion.

Anthropos Brno FPV