A New York homeowner discovered a complete mastodon jaw in his backyard, and authorities are calling it an “astonishing discovery.”
Researchers from the New York State Museum and the State University of New York at Orange have unearthed the jaw and several bone fragments of an extinct elephant-like mammal from the Scotchtown property.
“The fossils discovered by the 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. Ta. “Once conservation and research is complete, the jaw and related finds will be unveiled in a public program in 2025, giving visitors a glimpse into New York’s rich Ice Age history.”
According to the Albany-based museum, the home’s owners first noticed the jaw when they spotted “two unusual teeth hidden in the leaves of a plant,” and were intrigued enough to dig a little deeper. He said he discovered two more teeth just a few inches below the surface.
Archaeologists unearth 13,000-year-old mastodon skull in Iowa
Staff from the New York State Museum and the State University of New York at Orange unearth mastodon jaw discovered on property in Scotchtown, New York (New York State Museum)
“When we found the tooth and held it in our hands to examine it, we knew it was something special and decided to call in an expert,” the museum quoted the homeowner as saying. “We are thrilled that our estate has led to such an important discovery for the scientific community.”
The museum said the discovery was the first in New York in 11 years and described it as a “prehistoric treasure.”
480-year-old firearm discovered in Arizona, researchers describe as ‘oldest’ discovered in US
A mastodon tooth found in Orange County, New York, still embedded in its jaw. (New York State Museum)
“Excavation efforts by the New York State Museum and the State University of New York Orange Bureau unearthed a complete and well-preserved jaw of an adult mastodon,” the report said. “In addition to the jaw, researchers also recovered part of a toe bone and rib fragments, providing valuable additional clues about the mastodon’s life and environment.”
Museum officials say 150 mastodon fossils have been discovered across New York, but one-third of them came 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, Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“While the jaw is the star, additional fragments of toes and ribs provide valuable context and potential for further research,” Corey Harris, director of the Department of Behavioral Sciences at New York University Orange, said in a statement. “We also want to further investigate the nearby area for more bones that may be preserved.”
