New York Resident Discovers Complete Mastodon Jaw Beneath Lawn
A New York state resident recently made a remarkable discovery when they
found a complete mastodon jaw beneath their lawn in Scotchtown, Orange
County, located around 70 miles north of Manhattan. The discovery was made
after the homeowner noticed two large teeth protruding from the ground.
Researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange were called to
the site and uncovered not only the jaw but also fragments of a toe bone and
a rib. This discovery marks the first time in over 11 years that a mastodon
jaw has been found in New York. It adds to the impressive record of about
150 mastodon fossils found across the state, with around a third of them
located in Orange County.
Mastodons were large, prehistoric relatives of elephants that roamed the northeastern United States during the Pleistocene epoch, an era known for its Ice Age fauna. Unlike mammoths, which primarily grazed on grasses, mastodons used their large, flat teeth to clip and crush twigs, leaves, and other parts of shrubs and trees, making them adapted to forested environments.
This particular mastodon jaw, believed to have come from an adult animal, provides significant insight into the region's paleontological past. The additional fragments, including the toe bone and rib, offer valuable context for researchers to further understand the mastodon’s life and diet. Dr. Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange’s Behavioral Sciences Department, emphasized the importance of this discovery, as it provides an opportunity to study the ecology of the species and gain insights into the broader Ice Age ecosystems of the area.
Dr. Robert Feranec, Director of Research and Collections at the New York State
Museum, explained that the find is a testament to the region's rich
paleontological history, with the mastodon jaw offering a unique opportunity
to learn more about the species and its environment. Researchers are excited
to explore the area further to see if more bones or fossils might be
preserved, as this would contribute even more to the understanding of Ice Age
life. They are also hoping to determine the age of the mastodon and learn more
about its diet and the habitat in which it lived.
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