A homeowner in New York uncovered a complete mastodon jaw in their backyard in what officials are calling a « remarkable discovery. »
The jaw of the extinct mammal, which was similar to an elephant, and several bone fragments were excavated from a property in Scotchtown by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange.
« The fossils – discovered by a curious homeowner – will undergo carbon dating and extensive scientific analysis to determine the mastodon’s age, diet, and habitat, » the New York State Museum said in a statement. « Once preserved and studied, the jaw and related findings will be showcased in public programming in 2025, offering visitors a glimpse into New York’s rich Ice Age history. »
The Albany-based Museum said the homeowner first noticed the jaw when they spotted « two unusual teeth concealed by plant fronds and, intrigued, dug a bit deeper to uncover two more teeth just inches beneath the surface. »
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New York State Museum and SUNY Orange staff excavate a mastodon jaw found on a property in Scotchtown, N.Y. (New York State Museum)
« When I found the teeth and examined them in my hands, I knew they were something special and decided to call in the experts, » the museum quoted the homeowner as saying. « I’m thrilled that our property has yielded such an important find for the scientific community. »
The discovery is also being described by the museum as the first of its kind in New York in 11 years, and a « prehistoric treasure. »
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A mastodon tooth that was still embedded in the jaw found in New York’s Orange County. (New York State Museum)
« Excavation efforts by the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange unearthed a full, well-preserved mastodon jaw belonging to an adult individual, » it said. « Alongside the jaw, researchers also recovered a piece of a toe bone and a rib fragment, offering valuable additional clues about the mastodon’s life and environment. »
Museum officials said 150 mastodon fossils have been found across New York, but a third of them have come from Orange County, where the jaw was discovered.
A printed illustration of a mastodon from the book Animals of the Prehistoric World. (Florilegius/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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« While the jaw is the star of the show, the additional toe and rib fragments offer valuable context and the potential for additional research, » Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange’s Behavioral Sciences Department, said in a statement. « We are also hoping to further explore the immediate area for more bones that may have been preserved. »
