Preserving the Past: Scientific Study, Conservation, and Interpretation of the Mammut Americanum

This project, funded by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, enabled the UNI Museum to research, preserve, and conserve the mastodon tusk in the museum's collection. This project involved a collaboration across multiple entities throughout campus and the community. The Instrumental Analysis class in Chemistry spent a semester researching the tusk to help us learn more about previous conservation efforts; museum staff has worked with several organizations to create the case and digital interpretation for the final display; and students from Industrial Technology designed and manufactured the final mount for the tusk. In addition to this work, museum student assistants have been involved in this work and have helped to further our knowledge about mastodons in Iowa. From students in the Departments of Chemistry and Industrial Technology to case manufactures in Germany, this project has engaged the talents of many people and has provided students with the opportunity to expand their skills. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/mastodon/ https://museum.library.uni.edu/exhibits/conservation-and-exhibition-hampton-mastodon-tusk