That's a huge discovery.
The jaw of a prehistoric mastodon was found intact in the backyard of a Hudson Valley home, and the homeowner first saw the teeth growing from the plant, state officials said.
An adult male jaw and other incredible bone fragments were recently discovered in Orange County near Scotchtown, about 110 miles from New York City. The New York State Museum announced Tuesday.
This is the first time in 11 years that similar fossils have been discovered in the state.
Residents found part of the jaw sticking out of the topsoil and two teeth hidden near the leaves of a plant.
“When I found the tooth and held it in my hand to examine it, I knew it was something special and decided to call in a specialist,” said the anonymous homeowner.
“We are thrilled that our estate has produced such an important discovery for the scientific community.”
Staff from the museum and the State University of New York at Orange arrived at the home and pulled out the mastodon's well-preserved jaw, toes, and rib fragments.
The fossils will be carbon dated and analyzed to determine the mastodon's age, diet and habitat, officials said.
“This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this remarkable species and will deepen our understanding of the region's ice age ecosystems,” said the curator of ice age animals for the museum. Robert Feranek said.
“This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this amazing species and deepen our understanding of the region's ice age ecosystems.
“Fossils are a resource that provide remarkable snapshots of the past, allowing us to not only reconstruct ancient ecosystems, but also gain better context and understanding of the world around us today.”
