Have you ever heard of Scotchtown, New York?
Well neither have we, but the Orange County town is drawing attention from natural history experts ever since a complete mastodon jaw was unearthed here back in December.
Researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange excavated a pre-historic dinosaur jaw and bone fragments from a residential backyard in Scotchtown – the first discovery of its kind in 11 years.
The mastodon jaw belonged to an adult dinosaur, and was originally found by the homeowner when they found two teeth concealed by the fronds of a plant in the yard and another two underground.
Fast forward to bringing in the experts, and the Museum and SUNY Orange crew were able to dig up the massive jaw along with a piece of a toe bone and a rib fragment.
Why is this discovery so important?
Great question! The discovery of the fossils will allow for further research about the Ice Age ecosystems that used to exist in New York State.
Over 150 mastodon fossils have been discovered in NY, and one third of them in Orange County, meaning it’s one of the most important places for historians studying the elephant descendants (and all dinosaurs for that matter).
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,” said Dr. Robert Feranec, Director of Research & Collections and Curator of Ice Age Animals at the New York State Museum.
“Fossils allow us to reconstruct ancient environments and better understand the world around us today.”
So, where can I see this dinosaur jaw in person?
At the moment, the mastodon jaw and its accompanying fragments are undergoing scientific analysis in order to understand the species further and the time period it’s from.
At some point in 2025, the mastodon jaw will live in the New York State Museum in Albany, New York! Stay tuned for exactly when the artifacts will reach the capital.