Mexican archaeologist Luis Cordoba working on the tusks and skull of the fossilised skeleton of a mammoth discovered in the village of Tultepec near Mexico City.

Archaeologists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History are also carefully digging up the ribs, humerus and vertebrae of the giant woolly mammal, believed to be dated from the Pleistocene period (between 14,000 years and 12,000 years ago).

The fossil was discovered by chance in December, buried 2m deep, when drainage pipes were being installed.

When alive, the mammoth was 3.5m high, 5m long, weighed around five tonnes and was between the age of 20 and 25 years, experts say. The Tultepec mammoth is about three-quarters complete and well preserved.

Archaeologists have been working at the site since April, and they hope to complete their work in the next few days.