Oregon State University's athletic department was busy in a renovation project when it accidentally unearthed some prehistoric bones. As per reports, the 10,000-year-old bones discovered during construction in north end zone of the university’s Reser Stadium in Corvallis belong to a mammoth.

The femurs were uncovered by construction crews when they were working at the site of the Valley Football Center expansion project at the stadium, said Steve Clark, spokesperson of the Oregon State University. Apart from bones of an ancient mammoth, they have found some remains that may belong to other animal species, such as bison and a camel, he added.

Deputy athletic director Mark Massari said the site where the prehistoric bones have been discovered is future locker room of the university’s football team. Until Tuesday, an archaeologist at the university removed one femur from the construction site. As per the archaeologist, the bone-site could be a bond or a watering hole long time ago.

After first spotting the bones, the construction crew contacted Loren Davis an associate professor of anthropology at the university. Davis said, “There are quite a few bones, and dozens of pieces. Some of the bones are not in very good shape, but some are actually quite well preserved”. Davis added that no human bone has been discovered yet.

According to Davis, the discovery of the ancient bones is not surprising in the Willamette Valley. It was one of the most favorite spots of mammoths to roam a long time ago, Davis added.

Clark said the university archaeologist examined the bones and found that they were approximately 10,000-year-old.

In a press release, the university said that no human bone has been discovered, so the site is not considered as a protected archaeological site.