In Lubbock, Texas, during routine roadwork for the Loop 88 highway project, workers made an unexpected discovery: the bones of ancient, massive animals from the Ice Age.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) confirmed that the remains belong to megafauna, large mammals that roamed the Earth thousands of years ago.
Among the finds, a tooth identified as belonging to a giant ground sloth was uncovered. This species, known as Nothrotheriops shastensis, could grow up to 9 feet tall and weigh over 500 pounds.
The area, rich in ancient lakebeds called playas, may have once served as a water source for both animals and humans during the Ice Age.
TxDOT officials noted that if evidence of human activity alongside these ancient creatures is found, the project will be paused for further study.
Archaeologists are continuing their work at the site, employing dating techniques and searching for smaller artifacts to better understand the historical context of the discovery.