Mammoth Hunters – Prehistoric Discoveries

Archaeological discoveries near Kościuszko Mound reveal secrets from tens of thousands of years ago. Excavations have uncovered traces of mammoths and the humans who hunted them, providing a rare glimpse into prehistoric life in Europe.

The first finds near Kościuszko Mound were made in 1967, when a local resident building a house unearthed unusual bones. Archaeologists quickly investigated, and research continued for decades. The site eventually revealed the remains of at least 86–110 mammoths, ranging from young calves to adult and elderly animals, some dating back 250,000 years. This makes it the largest mammoth site in Poland and one of the most significant in Europe.

Almost every part of the mammoth skeleton was recovered: tusks, ribs, vertebrae, pelvis, and even tiny bones like finger bones and sesamoids. Unique finds included milk teeth and tusks of young mammoths—the first of their kind discovered in Poland. These discoveries provide an extraordinary insight into the lives of these Ice Age giants.

In 2018, a flint-tipped spearhead fragment was discovered embedded in a mammoth bone. This proved that prehistoric humans actively hunted these enormous creatures, rather than merely driving them off cliffs. The terrain near Kościuszko Mound was ideal for guiding animals into natural traps.

Humans of the Ice Age relied on simple tools, yet they successfully hunted animals weighing up to six tons.

The Spadzista Street site, excavated from 1968 to 2002, functioned as a “killing site” and “butchering site.” Hunters dismembered mammoths here and transported the meat to their base camps. Unlike Gravettian settlements in Austria and the Czech Republic, the Krakow site was primarily a hunting ground rather than a seasonal camp, offering insights into Ice Age hunting strategies in Central Europe.

Research was carried out by the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals (Polish Academy of Sciences) and the Archaeology Institute of Jagiellonian University. Leading scholars included Prof. Janusz K. Kozłowski and Dr. Krzysztof Sobczyk. These findings not only document mammoth life but also shed light on Gravettian culture in Poland and Europe, demonstrating the skills and strategies of early hunters.