# Construction crews in California accidentally unearthed the bones of a large mammal that lived 40 to 45 million years ago

Source: [Earth.com](https://www.earth.com/science/construction-crews-in-california-hit-the-bones-of-a-large-mammal-that-lived-40-to-45-million-years-ago/) · 2026-11-08 · Earth & Climate
Page: https://themorning.science/story/construction-crews-in-california-accidentally-unearthed-the-bones-of-a-large-mam-a6a566abd69aa2e2
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In brief

- Construction crews in Oceanside, California, unearthed fossil bones of a large mammal during a city infrastructure project.
- Principal paleontologist Joseph El Adli of Helix Environmental Planning spotted the bones about 12 feet (3.7 meters) below the surface.
- The mammal lived 40 to 45 million years ago.

## Why it matters

Fossils found during routine construction can add to the record of ancient mammals in the region, and they show why paleontologists are often involved in excavation work.

## Coverage

- [Construction crews in California accidentally unearthed the bones of a large mammal that lived 40 to 45 million years ago](https://www.earth.com/science/construction-crews-in-california-hit-the-bones-of-a-large-mammal-that-lived-40-to-45-million-years-ago/) — Earth.com, 2026-11-08

Tags: paleontology, fossils, mammals, construction, oceanside

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science