Homeowner finds complete Ice Age mastodon jawbone while gardening in his Hudson Valley backyard

A homeowner in Hudson Valley, New York, unearthed a complete mastodon jawbone, along with several teeth and bone fragments while gardening in his backyard while gardening. At first, he noticed two unusual teeth concealed by plant leaves. "When I saw the teeth and picked them up to examine them, I immediately understood that this was something special, and I informed the experts," the homeowner said, according to the New York Post.

He contacted experts from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange. In a full excavation, researchers recovered the well-preserved mastodon jaw and additional bone fragments, including pieces of toe bones and ribs. According to CBS News, this is the first mastodon fossil discovery in New York State in over a decade.

Dr. Robert Feranec, a curator at the New York State Museum, emphasized the significance of the find. "This mastodon jaw offers a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this magnificent species and will deepen our knowledge about Ice Age ecosystems in the region," he stated, as reported by ABC News.

The jaw and associated fragments are undergoing scientific analysis, including carbon dating and isotopic studies, to determine the mastodon's age, diet, and habitat. Once the analysis and preservation work are complete, the bones will be featured on public display in 2025, offering visitors a glimpse into New York's rich Ice Age history.

Dr. Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange's Behavioral Sciences Department, remarked on the significance of the additional fragments. "While the jaw is the star of the show, the additional toe and rib fragments offer valuable context and the potential for additional research," Harris said, according to NBC News. "We are also hoping to further explore the immediate area for more bones that may have been preserved," he added.

Mastodons are extinct relatives of modern elephants that lived in North America approximately 3.75 million to 11,000 years ago. They thrived during the Ice Age in wooded environments. An adult mastodon stood about 2.5 to 3 meters tall and weighed up to six tons.

The discovery was made in the town of Scotchtown, about 70 miles from New York City. Orange County, where Scotchtown is located, is considered a "hotspot" for mastodon findings, with about one-third of New York State's mastodon fossils found there. ABC News reports that more than 150 mastodon fossils have been discovered throughout the state.

"I am excited that our property has yielded such an important finding for the scientific community," the homeowner is cited by CBS News,

"Fossils are resources that provide remarkable snapshots of the past and allow us to reconstruct ancient ecosystems," Feranec said, as reported by CBS News. He noted that the findings offer "a better context and a better understanding of the current world around us."

Many scientists attribute the decline of mastodons to a combination of climate change, competition for food, and excessive hunting by early humans.

Mastodons are distinctly different from mammoths and modern elephants. They had flatter and longer teeth compared to mammoths, and their cheek teeth had cone-like pointed tips. Additionally, mastodon teeth were less curved than those of mammoths.

The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.