A Complete Mastodon Jaw Was Just Uncovered in New York Backyard

An Orange County, New York homeowner recently stumbled upon a prehistoric discovery in their backyard—a complete mastodon jaw. A discovery like this hasn't been made in the state in over a decade, according to a press release by the New York State Museum.

The homeowner spotted two teeth sticking out of the dirt under a plant on their property. They dug deeper and discovered two more teeth just below the surface. Following their discovery, the homeowner contacted New York State Museum and SUNY Orange experts, who excavated a full, well-preserved mastodon jaw, as well as a piece of a toe bone and a rib fragment.

“When I found the teeth and examined them in my hands, I knew they were something special and decided to call in the experts,” the homeowner said. “I'm thrilled that our property has yielded such an important find for the scientific community.” 

The team of researchers believe the jaw belonged to an adult mastodon, an ancient relative of today's elephants. The fossils are scheduled to undergo carbon dating and "comprehensive analysis" to determine the mastodon's age, diet, and habitat during the Ice Age, the New York State Museum said.

"This discovery is a testament to the rich paleontological history of New York and the ongoing efforts to understand its past,” said Robert Feranec, director of research and collections and curator of Ice Age Animals at the New York State Museum. “This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this magnificent species, which will enhance our understanding of the Ice Age ecosystems from this region."

Out of the 150 mastodon fossils found in New York to date, about one-third were discovered in Orange County. Cory Harris from SUNY Orange hopes to continue exploring the area where the mastodon fossils were recently uncovered to see if any additional bones were preserved.

"Fossils are resources that provide remarkable snapshots of the past, allowing us to not only reconstruct ancient ecosystems but also provide us with better context and understanding of the current world around us. Each discovery like this one brings us one step closer to piecing together the full story of New York," Feranec says.