Stanford Receives 10,000-Year-Old Mastodon Molar, Bay Area's Most Complete Specimen
Updated
Updated · latination.com · Sep 21
Stanford Receives 10,000-Year-Old Mastodon Molar, Bay Area's Most Complete Specimen
3 articles · Updated · latination.com · Sep 21
Summary
Stanford University has taken custody of a Pacific mastodon molar found in a San Mateo County creek, with paleontologists calling it the most complete mastodon tooth yet recovered in the Bay Area.
Brigid Lynch spotted the fossil during fieldwork for a red-legged frog habitat restoration project, first mistaking the 23-centimeter specimen for an unusual rock before experts identified it from photos.
Researchers plan radiocarbon dating, enamel isotope and microwear analysis to pin down the tooth's age and reconstruct the animal's diet and late-Pleistocene environment.
The specimen will also be 3D scanned and replicated for public outreach, while officials keep the creek's exact location secret to prevent disturbance and protect the surrounding habitat.