Iowa’s State Archaeologist announced the discovery of a prehistoric mastodon, approximately 13,600 years old, in southern Iowa.
The University of Iowa’s Office of the State Archaeologist recently completed a 12-day excavation of the mastodon fossil, mostly the skull, according to a Facebook post. It is the first well-preserved mastodon ever unearthed in Iowa.
Mastodons were prehistoric elephant-like animals that became extinct 10,500 years ago, according to the National Park Service. Mastodon fossils have been found from Alaska to Mexico.
Mastodons, which lived in cool forests, had a shoulder height of about 3 meters and upward-curved tusks, according to the agency.
Radiocarbon samples provided evidence that the skull, found in an eroding creek bank in Wayne County, was about 13,600 years old, according to the Office of the State Archaeologist.
State archaeologist John Doershuk is still examining the remains for evidence of human activity, such as cut marks. He and community members also managed to recover several mastodon bones in the area.
Once conservation and analysis are complete, the mastodon bones will become part of a new exhibit at the Prairie Trails Museum, 515 E. Jefferson St., in Corydon.
José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at [email protected].
