Jaw-Dropping Discovery: Mastodon Fossil Unearthed in New York Backyard!

<img src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/808b/live/46eae140-bd7b-11ef-9da8-679f9df8fb91.jpg.webp" alt="New York State Museum Researchers unearth a mastodon jaw ">

A New York homeowner made a truly jaw-dropping discovery – a complete mastodon jaw, the first such find in the state in over 11 years! The discovery happened in Orange County, prompting researchers from the New York State Museum and the State University of New York to excavate the site.

More Than Just a Jaw

The team unearthed not only the remarkably well-preserved jaw, but also additional bone fragments, including a toe and rib. This find is incredibly significant because it represents the first complete mastodon jaw discovered in New York in more than a decade.

<img src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2c4a/live/f0b44320-bd7a-11ef-9da8-679f9df8fb91.jpg.webp" alt="New York State Museum Mastodon jaw">

This discovery provides invaluable insights into the Ice Age ecosystems of the region and the ecology of mastodons, providing data to enhance current understanding.

Mastodons: Relatives of Modern-Day Elephants

Mastodons, related to modern elephants and extinct mammoths, roamed the Earth during the Ice Age. While fossils have been found globally, those specifically identified as mastodon remains are primarily from North America. These creatures, characterized by their flatter skulls, smaller ears, and long upper tusks, went extinct about 13,000 years ago.

<img src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4a0a/live/7ddf8750-bd71-11ef-a464-6514bc34ad43.jpg.webp" alt="Getty Images An illustration of a mastodon">

Orange County has yielded a significant number of mastodon fossils, making this latest discovery even more exciting for researchers. The additional bone fragments offer potential for further exploration and research, with hopes to discover even more preserved bones in the area.