Discovered on the Rhine: Giant Teeth Belonging to Mammoths in Dusseldorf

In a fascinating discovery, Rustam Wagner, a dedicated treasure hunter, unearthed a mammoth molar on the banks of the Rhine in Urdenbach, a district in Düsseldorf, in 2021. The tooth, approximately 30 centimeters in size, was found directly opposite the Düsseldorf TV tower.

Wagner, who has been searching for old treasures on the banks of the Rhine for years, initially was unsure of what he had found. However, upon closer inspection, he quickly identified it as a mammoth tooth. The tooth, which is currently being prepared at the Ruhr Museum in Essen to prevent decay, is at least 15,000 years old but could be up to 125,000 years old.

"Many might have walked past it," said Rustam Wagner about the mammoth tooth he found. The tooth was continuously submerged in water to ensure its good state of preservation.

The discovery was reported by the "Rheinische Post", and it has sparked interest in the archaeological community. Philipp Schulte, a geologist from the LVR Office for Monument Preservation in Bonn, commented on the find, considering it an important addition to the cultural heritage of the Rhineland.

Interestingly, this is not the first mammoth tooth discovery in the region. In 2012, another mammoth tooth was recovered from a construction pit in Gelsenkirchen, and workers building a subway line in Düsseldorf discovered a mammoth tusk in the same year.

Rustam Wagner has had his share of unique finds on the Rhine. Over the years, he has discovered coins, watches, and even unexploded bombs. Despite his numerous discoveries, the mammoth molar stands out as one of his most significant finds.

Wagner considers the tooth as part of the cultural heritage of the Rhineland and hopes that it will provide valuable insights into the region's history. The mammoth tooth, now in the care of the Ruhr Museum, promises to be a fascinating study for archaeologists and historians alike.