While mammoth skeletons are significant archaeological finds that offer a rare glimpse into the past, especially from the Ice Age, a widely shared photo on social media claimed to show the excavation of a well-preserved mammoth skeleton at a prominent archaeological site in North America. Many users shared and reacted to the post. However, after verification using an AI detection tool, it was revealed that the image was generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Social Media Claim
A photo showing the excavation of a giant mammoth skeleton has been posted along with a claim that it was found and well-preserved at North America’s prominent archaeological site. The photo, shared about a week ago, quickly gained traction, resulting in many reactions and comments from other users on the platform.
The following screenshot shows the image mentioned above, accompanied by the caption: “Well-Preserved Mammoth Skeleton Unearthed at North America’s Prominent Archaeological Site.”
A similar claim has also been observed and shared by another Facebook user. This repetition highlights the viral nature of the claim and its ability to spread across the platforms.
For more information and specifics regarding this post, you can find the details below.
Such photos have also been recently posted and found on X, with various users discussing their authenticity.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Careful investigation of the viral images indicates that several characteristics of the skeletons in the pictures did not correspond to the anatomy of actual mammoth specimens housed in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History collection in Washington, D.C.
Are There Actual Mammoth Skeletons Found on Earth?
Even though there are telltale signs that the viral images might not be genuine, we investigated whether there had been any recent genuine archaeological findings related to the viral news.
Regarding actual discoveries, according to a CBS News report published in December 2023, well-preserved mammoth skeletons have been unearthed in various locations. For instance, coal miners discovered a remarkably complete mammoth tusk in North Dakota, excavating over 20 bones from the same skeleton. CBS News Report | Archived Link
According to The Sun, published in August 2024, the oldest and largest mammoth bone structure ever discovered was found in Russia’s Kostyonki–Borshchyovo archaeological complex. This structure, known as Kostenki 11, dates back approximately 40,000 years. The Sun News Report | Archived Link
However, none of these archaeological findings resemble the viral images of the purported Mammoth skeletons.
AI-Generated Images
When we uploaded the photo to the Hive Moderation website, it was revealed that the image was not genuine. Instead the image was generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The photo below clearly demonstrates that the images above were created using AI technology and are not accurate representations of actual mammoth skeletons.
Other AI image detection tools such as illuminarty
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo has verified the photo claims and found them to be AI-generated. While there are existing and actual mammoth skeleton excavations, none of them depicts the viral image collection either.
