A remarkable discovery has unfolded in the unlikeliest of places - a New York homeowner's yard.

A complete mastodon jaw, along with a piece of toe bone and a rib fragment, has been unearthed in Orange County, New York. The discovery, led by teams from the New York State Museum and State University of New York Orange is a massive find and helps bring to light the area's prehistoric past.

The homeowner found the mastodon jaw while doing regular yard work. They saw two strange teeth hidden under plants and realizing it was important, they immediately called experts, who came quickly to check it out.

After the find, scientists all over got very interested in it, showing how important it is. This is the first time in 11 years that something like this has been found in New York. It adds to the more than 150 mastodon fossils found in the whole state. According to the New York State Museum, Orange County is becoming well-known for these kinds of discoveries, which shows how important the area is historically.

Robert Feranec, the museum’s director of research and collections and curator of ice age animals, emphasized the significance of the find, stating, "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."

Mastodons were big animals similar to today's elephants. They lived in North America from 3.75 million to 11,000 years ago. They were about 8 to 10 feet tall and weighed up to six tons. Even though they were huge, mastodons had a hard time surviving due to things like not having enough food, changes in the weather, and being hunted too much by ancient humans.

The newly discovered mastodon jaw and other pieces will be carefully studied by scientists. They will use methods like carbon dating and figuring out what the animal ate. This exciting find will be displayed to the public in 2025, giving everyone a chance to see this amazing part of nature's history.

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Could you even imagine finding something like this in your backyard? Now every time you walk out to your yard, you’re going to think about what might be hidden right under your feet, won’t you?

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