One couple, who wish to remain anonymous, were gardening when they saw some huge teeth poking out of the earth. It turned out the gnashers once belonged to a cousin of the mammoth
One New York couple were staggered when, during a spot of gardening, they unearthed some gigantic teeth poking out of the dirt.
The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, asked experts to arrive to help unearth even more teeth. They discovered the bones were part of a mastodon, a colossal cousin of the mammoth that roamed the earth until about 13,000 years ago.
“This discovery is a testament to the rich paleontological history of New York and the ongoing efforts to understand its past,” Robert Feranec, the New York State Museum’s director of research and collections, said in a statement.
“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.
“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,” he added.
In addition to the well-preserved jaw, the researchers also uncovered a part of a rib and toe bone. They plan on further analyzing the jaw and bone fragments, including through carbon dating. The researchers have identified the remains as belonging to an adult mastodon.
Teams will now try and work out how old the fossils are, as well analysing them to find out more about the mastodon’s age, diet and what its habitat was like during its lifetime.
The pieces are set to go on display in the museum in 2025.
The new discovery is the first of its kind in New York state for at least 11 years and appeared in a county rich with mastodon remains.
Orange County is well-known for its mastodon fossils. About a third of the 150 mastodon fossils unearthed in New York state were discovered in Orange County.
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