State Museum and SUNY Orange researchers uncover mastodon bone fragments from the backyard of a residence near Scotchtown, Orange County.Provided by state Education Department
WALLKILL -- State researchers on Tuesday announced a remarkable scientific discovery: mastodon bone fragments, including a complete adult jaw, were found in the backyard of a homeowner in Orange County.
The fossils were recovered by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange from the backyard of a residence in the hamlet of Scotchtown. The fossils are scheduled for carbon dating and comprehensive analysis to determine the mastodon's age, diet and habitat during its lifetime, the state Education Department said in a news release.
They are the first mastodon fossils found in New York in 11 years, the release said. The bones will be featured in public programming in 2025.
The discovery began when the homeowner, who was not identified in the release, found two teeth concealed by the fronds of a plant on their property. Upon further investigation, the homeowner unearthed two additional teeth just inches underground.
Excavations by the State Museum and SUNY Orange staff eventually yielded a full, well-preserved adult mastodon jaw as well as a piece of a toe bone and a rib fragment. The Education Department called it a "significant find (that) will enhance our understanding of the region's Ice Age inhabitants and highlight the abundance of prehistoric wonders yet to be discovered."
"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 resident who found the bones said in a statement. "I'm thrilled that our property has yielded such an important find for the scientific community."
More than 150 mastodon fossils have been found across New York to date. About one-third of those have been unearthed in Orange County -- the "premier hotspot for these ancient relatives of modern elephants," the release stated. The first known mastodon fossil was found in 1705 in Claverack and several high-profile discoveries were made at Hudson Valley farms in the late 18th century.
Mastodons belonged to the same order as mammoths and elephants. Scientists believe they roamed the landmass now called North America from the late Miocene Epoch (about 25 million years ago, when they diverged from the evolutionary ancestors of modern elephants) through the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, where they overlapped with humans. They began to decline in their northernmost ranges about 75,000 years ago and went extinct, along with several other megafauna species, about 10,000 years ago, according to the American Museum of Natural History.
"This discovery is a testament to the rich paleontological history of New York and the ongoing efforts to understand its past," Dr. Robert Feranec, director of research and collections and curator of Ice Age Animals at the State Museum, said in a statement. "This mastodon jaw 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."
The excavation and study of the mastodon jaw are part of ongoing efforts to document and preserve the rich paleontological heritage of New York, the Education Department said in its release. It encouraged the public to report any similar discoveries, as every find "has the potential to shed light on the distant past and inspire new generations of scientists and enthusiasts."
"While the jaw is the star of the show, the additional toe and rib fragments offer valuable context and the potential for additional research," Dr. Cory Harris Chair of SUNY Orange's Behavioral Sciences Department said in a statement. "We are also hoping to further explore the immediate area to see if there are any additional bones that were preserved."