Mammoth Skeleton Found Near French Capital

A mammoth skeleton has been found by archaeologists near Paris, France.

Illustration of a wooly mammoth skeleton

The nearly complete skeleton of a long-haired wooly mammoth was unearthed along the Changis-sur-Marne riverbanks just 30 miles away from the French capital during the excavation of an ancient Roman site.

Researchers at the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) said the remains date back to some 200,000-500,000 years ago and include a femur, a complete pelvis, jawbones and four connected vertebrae.

Archaeologists said such a discovery is rare as only three specimens of the mammoth have been unearthed in France in the last 150 years.

They added that the mammoth, they named "Helmut," was in its 20's at the time of its death.