Construction workers have uncovered an ancient mammoth tusk while digging at a site in Seattle's South Lake Union area, museum officials said.

The workers, who were stopped in their tracks when they made the discovery Tuesday, quickly called the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, which has verified the discovery, saying it's confident that the tusk dates back to the ice age, according to the Associated Press.

The museum said since the tusk was found on private property, it's up to the landowner to decide what to do with it, but posited the discovery as a "rare opportunity to directly study Seattle's ancient natural history."

The prehistoric relative of the elephant, mammoths roamed across Washington State until around 10,000 years ago, according to the museum.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Construction workers for Transit Plumbing Inc. in Seattle uncovered a mammoth tusk on Feb. 11, 2014, that museum officials said dates back to the ice age. (Courtesy Transit Plumbing Inc.)