A remarkable discovery has been made in the heartland of the United States. Researchers have unearthed a remarkably well-preserved mastodon skull, estimated to be around 13,600 years old, in a creek in Iowa. This is the first time a mastodon skull has ever been found in the state. The discovery came two years after local residents in Wayne County, southern Iowa, stumbled upon an unusually long bone protruding from the creek bed. Intrigued by the find, archaeologists investigated and identified the bone as a mastodon femur. This sparked further exploration of the site, ultimately leading to the unearthing of the magnificent skull, complete with a tusk still attached, along with other bones likely belonging to the same ancient animal.
Researchers are now meticulously examining the site, hoping to uncover evidence of human interaction with this prehistoric behemoth. They are particularly interested in finding potential signs of human intervention, such as projectile points or knives, that might have been used to kill the mastodon and butcher its carcass. “We’re really hoping to find evidence of human interaction with this creature — perhaps the projectile points and knives that were used to kill the animal and do initial butchering,” stated John Doershuk, Director and State Archaeologist at the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist, who participated in the excavations.
American mastodons (Mammut americanum), large, extinct relatives of elephants and mammoths, once roamed across North America, spanning from Alaska to central Mexico, between 3.5 million and 13,000 years ago. They vanished from the Earth shortly before the end of the last ice age, approximately 11,700 years ago, due to a combination of climate change and human predation, according to the San Diego Natural History Museum. Mastodons were smaller than their woolly mammoth counterparts (Mammuthus primigenius), weighing about 6 tons (5.5 metric tons).
Using radiocarbon dating, researchers have determined that the mastodon skull dates back to the same period as the arrival of the first humans in the region, raising the intriguing possibility of human-mastodon encounters. This is further supported by the discovery of human-made artifacts at the site, including stone tools. Although these tools are slightly younger than the mastodon skull, their presence confirms, for the first time, human occupation of the creek. “There’s also potential evidence on the bones themselves,” Doershuk added, mentioning the possibility of identifiable cut marks.
Further research is underway to investigate the potential involvement of humans in the deposition of the mastodon bones in the creek. Once the investigation is complete, the remains will be transferred to the Prairie Trails Museum in Corydon, Iowa, for a new exhibit. This discovery is generating significant excitement in the scientific community and has captured the imagination of the public. It offers a tantalizing glimpse into the ancient past, raising questions about the interactions between early humans and the magnificent mastodons that once roamed this land.
