Fossilized 10,000-year-old mastodon tooth found by California scientist
Molar from large mammal that once lived in North America is in ‘immaculate condition’ after discovery in Bay Area A 10,000 year-old tooth in remarkable condition from an ancient Pacific mastodon, a large mammal that once inhabited North America, was recently discovered by a California scientist. Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist, was working at a preserve in San Mateo county, when she stumbled…
A 10,000-year-old tooth from an ancient Pacific mastodon was discovered by a California scientist working at a preserve in San Mateo county. Paleontologists confirmed the find was not a stone but an adult Pacific mastodon molar, describing it as immaculate and the most complete specimen from the region. The Pacific mastodon, a large mammal related to modern-day elephants, inhabited North America about 2.5 million years ago.
It went extinct over 10,000 years ago due to climate change and human hunting. The fossilized tooth has been donated to Stanford University, where researchers will use carbon dating to determine the molar's exact age. Fossils provide a glimpse into past biodiversity, helping scientists understand Earth's history and make informed decisions for the future of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Similar mastodon fossils have been found recently, including a jaw in New York and a foot-long tooth on a California beach.
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