A complete mastodon jaw was discovered in the backyard of a homeowner in Orange County, New York, in a discovery that sheds new light on the Ice Age ecosystem. The find, which also included a piece of toe bone and a rib fragment, is the first recorded in 11 years in New York state.
The homeowner noticed “two unusual teeth concealed by plant fronds” while tending to his property and called in experts from the New York State Museum and State University of New York Orange. The team’s excavation has added to the state’s tally of mastodon fossils, which total over 150 statewide, with a significant portion found in Orange County.
Mastodons, distant relatives of modern elephants, roamed North America from around 3.75 million to 11,000 years ago. Scientists believe competition for food, climate change, and early human hunting led to their extinction. The newly discovered jaw will undergo rigorous scientific analysis, including carbon dating and dietary reconstruction, before being showcased to the public in 2025.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/18/science/mastodon-jawbone-found-new-york-yard-hnk-sci/index.html