• About BreezyScroll
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us
Thursday, May 8, 2025
BreezyScroll
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • Breezy Stories
  • Technology
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Money
  • Sports
  • Breezy Explainer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Breezy Stories
  • Technology
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Money
  • Sports
  • Breezy Explainer
No Result
View All Result
BreezyScroll
No Result
View All Result

Home  /  World  /  The US  /  New York man discovers rare complete mastodon jaw buried in his backyard

New York man discovers rare complete mastodon jaw buried in his backyard

by Siddhi Vinayak Misra
December 19, 2024
in The US, World
Reading Time: 3 mins read
New York man discovers rare complete mastodon jaw buried in his backyard

Historic discovery marks first complete jaw found in state in over a decade

A routine day of gardening turned into a remarkable archaeological discovery when a New York resident uncovered a complete mastodon jaw in his backyard, marking a significant find for paleontologists studying Ice Age ecosystems in the northeastern United States.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unexpected discovery

The discovery occurred in late September when the homeowner noticed what he initially thought were baseballs protruding from the soil in his garden in Scotchtown, a hamlet located approximately 70 miles north of New York City. Robert Feranec, director of research and collections at the New York State Museum, recounted the moment of discovery: “He picked them up and realized they were teeth.”

Scientific significance

The find represents the first complete mastodon jaw discovered in New York State in 11 years, adding to the state’s rich paleontological history. New York has yielded over 150 mastodon fossil discoveries, with a third of these findings concentrated in Orange County, where this latest discovery was made.

“While the jaw is the star of the show, the additional toe and rib fragments offer valuable context and the potential for additional research,” said Cory Harris, chair of SUNY Orange’s behavioral sciences department. The well-preserved nature of the specimens has excited researchers, who see this as an opportunity to expand their understanding of Ice Age ecosystems.

ADVERTISEMENT

Research plans and future exhibition

A joint team from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange’s campus has already begun working at the site. In addition to the jaw, researchers recovered a toe bone and rib fragment, suggesting the possibility of more remains in the area. Harris indicated plans for further exploration: “We are also hoping to further explore the immediate area to see if there are any additional bones that were preserved.”

The research team plans to:

  • Conduct carbon dating to determine the mastodon’s age
  • Analyze the fossil to learn about the animal’s diet
  • Study the remains to understand its habitat
  • Prepare the specimens for public display in the coming year

Historical context

This discovery adds to the region’s rich history of mastodon findings, including the notable discovery of a 13,000-year-old skeleton in Hyde Park, New York, in 2000.

Mastodons, which were distant relatives of modern elephants, inhabited the northeastern United States during the Pleistocene epoch. Unlike their cousins the mammoths, which primarily grazed on grasses, mastodons were browsers, using their large teeth to crush twigs, leaves, and other woody vegetation.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This specimen 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,”

Feranec explained, highlighting the significance of the discovery for ongoing paleontological research. The public can look forward to viewing these remarkable specimens when they go on display at the New York State Museum in 2025, offering a tangible connection to New York’s prehistoric past.

Tags: MastodonNew York
ShareTweetShareSend
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent Articles

Who is Colonel Sofiya Qureshi? Officer at the forefront of Operation Sindoor briefing: A powerful symbol of leadership and inclusion

Who is Colonel Sofiya Qureshi? Officer at the forefront of Operation Sindoor briefing: A powerful symbol of leadership and inclusion

May 7, 2025
Nation on alert: India conducts massive civil defense drills amid Operation Sindoor strikes

Nation on alert: India conducts massive civil defense drills amid Operation Sindoor strikes

May 7, 2025
Earth’s expiration date? Scientists predict the exact year life will cease on our planet

Earth’s expiration date? Scientists predict the exact year life will cease on our planet

May 7, 2025
Sound waves could be the future of weight loss, research suggests

Sound waves could be the future of weight loss, research suggests

May 7, 2025
BreezyScroll Logo

BreezyScroll is a global content platform that provides a unique experience of enhancing the knowledge quotient for its audience by providing the latest news and updates from various categories such as politics, sports, entertainment, technology, and more.
The platform aims to provide a concise and easy-to-read format for its users. BreezyScroll covers news stories from around the world, majorly the United States. The platform was launched in 2021 and has become one of the fastest-growing content companies in the US.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Animals
  • Asia
  • Athletics
  • Australia
  • Auto
  • Basketball
  • Bollywood
  • Brand
  • Breezy Explainer
  • Breezy Feature
  • Breezy Soul
  • Business
  • Canada
  • Chess
  • China
  • Coronavirus
  • Cricket
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • EPL
  • Europe
  • Exclusive Interview
  • Exclusive Review
  • Football
  • Gaming
  • Health
  • Hollywood
  • India
  • International
  • K Pop
  • Law
  • Lifestyle
  • Middle East
  • Money
  • NFL
  • North America
  • OTT
  • Paris Olympics
  • Pets
  • Press Releases
  • Russia
  • Science
  • South America
  • Space
  • Sports
  • Startup
  • Technology
  • Tennis
  • Tennis
  • The Achievers
  • The US
  • Travel
  • UK
  • UK
  • Uncategorized
  • World
  • WWE

Trending Topics

Afghanistan AI Apple Australia Biden California Canada China Climate Change Coronavirus COVID-19 Donald Trump Elon Musk Featured Florida Google IPL Japan Joe Biden Mars Meta Moon NASA NBA Netflix New York North Korea Ohio Omicron Putin Queen Elizabeth II Russia Russia-Ukraine crisis South Korea SpaceX Taliban Tesla Texas TikTok Trump Twitter UK Ukraine USA Virat Kohli

No Result
View All Result
  • About BreezyScroll
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 · BreezyScroll.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Breezy Stories
  • Technology
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Money
  • Sports
  • Breezy Explainer

© 2024 · BreezyScroll.com

Go to mobile version