Ice Age Mastodon Tooth Unearthed in California Creek

A remarkable discovery occurred recently in a California creek, where a scientist found a tooth from an Ice Age creature. The tooth belonged to an ancient Pacific mastodon, a massive herbivore similar to an elephant, which vanished about 11,700 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. This finding was announced by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) in San Mateo County, California.

The Uncovered Tooth

The tooth was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics. She was surveying the area to enhance the habitat of the threatened California red-legged frog. Lynch, who frequently encounters geological formations, stated, “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field but definitely nothing as exciting as this.” Pictures reveal the tooth’s unique shape, which Lynch initially mistook for a strangely shaped rock.

A Rare and Well-Preserved Find

Wayne Thompson, CEO of Pacific Paleontology, described the mastodon tooth as being in “immaculate condition.” He estimated that the tooth dates back between 50,000 and 100,000 years, far older than initially thought. “It’s quite uncommon,” he noted regarding the rarity of such finds.

Thompson explained that the molar, with its roots largely intact, had not been greatly displaced in the stream, suggesting it hadn’t traveled far from where the mastodon died. He speculated that the rest of the animal might still lie buried at the site, possibly with the skull.

Future Research and Examination

Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability plans to perform carbon dating on the molar to determine its precise age. Additionally, researchers will produce a 3-D scan of the tooth to create a replica.

Mastodons preferred creek and river valleys, feeding on leaves rather than grasses. Alder trees, a favored food source, continue to line the creek where the tooth was uncovered. “Even today, when we went out to the site to inspect where the biological monitor was surveying, there were still hundreds of alders along the stream,” Thompson remarked.