It’s common to encounter weeds around backyard plants. But mastodon teeth? Not much.
A couple from Scotchtown, New York, discovered a fossil at the tip of an iceberg. They found two teeth hiding behind a leaf, then dug a little deeper and found two more. Then they decided to seek help.
“When I found the tooth and examined it with my hand, I knew it was something special and decided to call in a specialist,” said one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect his privacy. press release.
Skepticism, then surprise
Corey HarrisA SUNY archaeologist was initially suspicious when the couple showed up at his office carrying a cardboard box. He saw numerous treasures, which were nothing more than strangely shaped rocks.
This time was different.
Researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange visited the site and eventually unearthed the entire mastodon jawbone. They also unearthed fragments of toe bones and ribs.
“While the jaw is the star of the show, the added toe and rib fragments provide valuable context and the potential for further study,” Harris said in a press release. “We are also hoping to conduct further surveys of nearby areas to see if there are any additional preserved bones.”
Read more: Prehistoric animal migration: first evidence discovered in mastodon tusks
Mastodon Marching Ground
There is a pretty high probability that more will come out. Although this is the first discovery in New York in over 11 years, it is not uncommon to find such fossils in the city. About 150 mastodon fossils have been discovered throughout New York. The Ice Age mammal, not to be confused with the larger woolly mammoth, appears to have had an affinity for Orange County. This is where these mammoths (and about a third of the rest of the state) were found.
One of the first (or not) was discovered by preacher Robert Annan in 1780. He discovered a large number of bones on his farm in Wallkill, New York, and General George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, heard about the discovery. He left his army at Newburgh and rode 25 miles on a sledge to see it. The site is a few miles from where mastodon bones were most recently discovered.
Scientists will perform carbon dating on the fossils to determine when they passed through the neighborhood. They will also analyze the bones to learn more about its age, diet and habitat. Once these studies are complete, the fossil will be displayed in a museum.
And Orange County gardeners can take extra care while tending their yard.
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Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik was a science journalist for more than 20 years, specializing in U.S. life sciences policy and global science career issues. He started his career in newspapers but switched to science magazines. His research has been published in publications such as Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.
