New York Homeowner Unearths Complete Mastodon Jaw in Backyard: 'Remarkable Discovery'

In a truly wild discovery, a New York homeowner stumbled upon a complete mastodon jaw in their backyard, a find that officials are calling nothing short of "remarkable." Can you imagine just casually digging in your backyard and finding something that's been chilling there since the Ice Age?

The jaw, belonging to the extinct, elephant-like mammal, along with several bone fragments, was carefully excavated from the Scotchtown property by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange.

According to the New York State Museum, the fossils, unearthed by the homeowner's curiosity, will undergo carbon dating and extensive scientific analysis. The goal? To determine the mastodon’s age, diet, and habitat. The jaw and related findings are set to be showcased in public programming in 2025, offering a glimpse into New York’s Ice Age history.

The homeowner initially spotted the jaw when they noticed "two unusual teeth concealed by plant fronds and, intrigued, dug a bit deeper to uncover two more teeth just inches beneath the surface." Talk about a lucky day!

"When I found the teeth and examined them in my hands, I knew they were something special and decided to call in the experts," the museum quoted the homeowner as saying. "I’m thrilled that our property has yielded such an important find for the scientific community." 

The museum is touting this discovery as the first of its kind in New York in 11 years, labeling it a "prehistoric treasure."

"Excavation efforts by the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange unearthed a full, well-preserved mastodon jaw belonging to an adult individual," it said. "Alongside the jaw, researchers also recovered a piece of a toe bone and a rib fragment, offering valuable additional clues about the mastodon’s life and environment." 

Museum officials noted that while 150 mastodon fossils have been found across New York, a significant third of them hail from Orange County, where this recent jaw was discovered. Maybe there's something in the water... or, you know, the ancient soil.

"While the jaw is the star of the show, the additional toe and rib fragments offer valuable context and the potential for additional research," Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange’s Behavioral Sciences Department, stated. "We are also hoping to further explore the immediate area for more bones that may have been preserved."