Did you know that 15,000 years ago, the eastern part of Croatia was ruled by huge, furry creatures with massive tusks?
Let us take you to the Valley of the Mammoth, to the tiny village of Mohovo with barely 200 residents – a place that became famous almost overnight thanks to remarkable fossil discoveries.
The story began in autumn 2012, when the first fossil remains of a mammoth and a woolly rhinoceros were uncovered in a local orchard. Then in 2016, another excavation site revealed more ancient treasures.
A group of young locals quickly recognized the tourist and educational potential of these finds and founded the association “Dolina mamuta” with a bold vision: to revive the village and preserve its extraordinary heritage.
During further research, fossils of a woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, hyena, wild horse and bison were discovered. In 2020, another mammoth fossil was found near the village pond, placing Mohovo firmly on Croatia’s geological–paleontological map.
Another exciting discovery followed on July 30th, 2022, when Goran Popović from Mohovo uncovered yet another mammoth tooth – the fourth one so far.
Fun Fact:
Mammoth tusks could grow over 4 metres long and were used not only for defense, but also for clearing snow to reach grass and other plants.
The association has organized creative straw-workshops, resulting in impressive straw sculptures of the woolly mammoth, rhinoceros and hyena displayed in the village centre.
Along the D2 road connecting Ilok and Vukovar, visitors can admire a life-size mammoth sculpture by sculptor Nikola Faller – impossible to miss and a favourite photo spot!
Did you know?
Woolly mammoths had a layered “winter outfit” made of dense underfur, long outer hair and up to 8 cm of fat – enough to survive temperatures below –40 °C.
The association also hosts educational workshops on Mohovo’s paleontological past and organizes beloved events such as “Advent u Mohovu” and “Mammothfest”, adding vibrant cultural life to the village.
Visitors can also explore the exhibition “Fossils from the Valley of the Mammoths in Mohovo”, created with support from the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Croatian Natural History Museum and the Ilok City Museum, located in the local community hall.
Incredible but true:
The last mammoths did not disappear with the end of the Ice Age – some survived on remote Arctic islands until about 4,000 years ago, when the pyramids in Egypt were already standing.
With Advent approaching and the first snowflakes on the horizon, Mohovo becomes even more magical – the perfect moment to visit this charming village and its impressive mammoth guardian at the entrance.
