Complete Ice Age Mastodon Jaw Found in Orange County, NY Backyard After 11 Years

Dec 18, 2024, 06:16 PM

A homeowner in Orange County, New York, discovered a complete mastodon jaw in their backyard in Scotchtown, marking the first such find in the state in over 11 years. The jaw, belonging to an adult mastodon from the Ice Age, was initially spotted when the homeowner noticed two teeth protruding from the soil. Subsequent excavations, which lasted about 2.5 days, by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange uncovered the well-preserved jaw along with additional bone fragments, including a toe bone and a rib. The fossils are set to undergo carbon dating and analysis to determine the mastodon's age, diet, and habitat. The jaw will be featured in public programming at the New York State Museum in 2025. This discovery adds to the over 150 mastodon fossils found in New York, with approximately one-third of them discovered in Orange County.