Backyard Excavation in New York Yields Mastodon Fossil Discovery
Backyard Excavation in New York Yields Mastodon Fossil Discovery
Some individuals may yearn for hippos as presents, but a fellow in Scotchtown, New York, ended up with a mastodon instead.
This anonymous man discovered a fossilized mastodon jaw, featuring the extinct giant's distinctive choppers, in his backyard this year. Located around 70 miles (112 km) northwest of New York City, Scotchtown is where this jaw is the first to be found in over a decade.
A Dutch farmer unearthed the first mastodon discovery in North America in Claverack, New York, back in 1705. Since then, approximately 150 fossils of extinct elephant relatives have been discovered throughout the state. Interestingly, around one-third of these fossils were found in Orange County, as per Untapped New York. Additionally, over a dozen mastodon fossils have been discovered in New York City alone. This places southern New York in the limelight as a mastodon haven during its time.
Mastodons are not to be mixed up with mammoths, though both creatures roamed the Earth during the Pleistocene and early Holocene periods. However, there are distinct distinctions; mastodon heads were less angular, and their tusks were less curved. Moreover, mastodon teeth exhibit conical points, resulting in their fitting name.
Robert Feranec, the New York State Museum’s director of research and collections and curator of Ice Age mammals, stated that the man discovered the mastodon while gardening, initially mistaking the teeth for baseballs.
The mastodon teeth. Image: New York State Museum
"Upon finding the teeth and closely inspecting them, I recognized their unique quality and resolved to seek expert counsel," the homeowner shared in a museum statement. "I am elated that our property has contributed to such a significant scientific finding."
Excavations led by museum personnel and the State University of New York, Orange County, discovered a toe bone fragment, a broken rib, and the entire jaw of an adult mastodon.
"The jaw serves as the main attraction, but the additional toe and rib remnants offer important background information and potential for further research," said Cory Harris, an anthropologist at SUNY Orange, in the same statement. "Furthermore, we hope to explore the surrounding area for any potential preserved bones."
Lately, advancements in ancient DNA research have provided scientists with greater insights into the lives and eras of North American mastodons. In 2022, a research team successfully uncovered the majority of Fred the mastodon's life history from his 13,000-year-old tusk.
The researchers intend to date the mastodon jaw to ascertain its precise age and diet, much like the team did with Fred. The museum has planned to exhibit the fossil sometime in 2025.
Despite North America's proboscideans disappearing around 10,500 years ago, their remains continue to shed light on how ancient mammoths coexisted in their habitat.
The discovery of the mastodon jaw in Scotchtown propels discussions about the potential of future technology and scientific advancements in analyzing its age and diet. With advancements in ancient DNA research, scientists today can delve deeper into the lives and eras of extinct animals like mastodons, as demonstrated by the recent revelations about Fred the mastodon.