Complete mastodon jaw found in New York homeowner's backyard: 'Remarkable discovery'

A homeowner successful New York uncovered a complete mastodon jaw successful their backyard successful what officials are calling a "remarkable discovery." 

The jaw of the extinct mammal, which was akin to an elephant, and respective bony fragments were excavated from a spot successful Scotchtown by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange. 

"The fossils – discovered by a funny homeowner – volition acquisition c dating and extended technological investigation to find the mastodon’s age, diet, and habitat," the New York State Museum said successful a statement. "Once preserved and studied, the jaw and related findings volition beryllium showcased successful nationalist programming successful 2025, offering visitors a glimpse into New York’s affluent Ice Age history." 

The Albany-based Museum said the homeowner archetypal noticed the jaw erstwhile they spotted "two antithetic teeth concealed by works fronds and, intrigued, dug a spot deeper to uncover 2 much teeth conscionable inches beneath the surface." 

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH 13,000-YEAR-OLD MASTODON SKULL IN IOWA 

New York State Museum and SUNY Orange unit excavate a mastodon jaw recovered connected a spot successful Scotchtown, N.Y. (New York State Museum)

"When I recovered the teeth and examined them successful my hands, I knew they were thing peculiar and decided to telephone successful the experts," the depository quoted the homeowner arsenic saying. "I’m thrilled that our spot has yielded specified an important find for the technological community." 

The find is besides being described by the depository arsenic the archetypal of its benignant successful New York successful 11 years, and a "prehistoric treasure." 

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A mastodon bony that was inactive embedded successful the jaw recovered successful New York's Orange County. (New York State Museum)

"Excavation efforts by the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange unearthed a full, well-preserved mastodon jaw belonging to an big individual," it said. "Alongside the jaw, researchers besides recovered a portion of a toed bony and a rib fragment, offering invaluable further clues astir the mastodon’s beingness and environment." 

Museum officials said 150 mastodon fossils person been recovered crossed New York, but a 3rd of them person travel from Orange County, wherever the jaw was discovered. 

A printed illustration of a mastodon from the publication Animals of the Prehistoric World. (Florilegius/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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"While the jaw is the prima of the show, the further toed and rib fragments connection invaluable discourse and the imaginable for further research," Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange’s Behavioral Sciences Department, said successful a statement. "We are besides hoping to further research the contiguous country for much bones that whitethorn person been preserved."