13,600-Year-Old Mastodon Fossil Was Possibly Slain By Iowa’s First Human Hunters

After 12 days of digging archaeologists in Wayne County, Iowa, recently unearthed the bones of something massive. A mastodon from 13,600 years ago. Evidence suggests a band of early humans, armed with the primitive tools found at the dig site, struck it down. And as the mastodon fell, a new chapter in human history began.

Finding Prehistoric Goliath

If you thought 2022 was a lucky year for you, imagine the luck of the resident from Wayne County who made this extraordinary discovery. Peeking out from under the mud bath of the creek bank was the femur of something massive. Over millennia these bones were buried deep. Deeper than my high school insecurities. But it remained very well preserved. The finding led archaeologists to uncover one of the most significant archaeological finds in the state’s history: a well-preserved 13,600-year-old mastodon. The first of its kind in Iowa! A state where such discoveries are already a rarity.

The Mighty Mastodon’s Size and Structure

The Iowa specimen had one tusk attached to its skull. The other was found nearby. Mastodons males stood up to 10 feet tall and females around seven feet. Imagine how many buildings you’d hit your head on! This massive size combined with their other physical attributes made mastodons powerful inhabitants of prehistoric North America. 

A Big Family 

Mastodons resided in North America between 3.5 million to 10,500 years ago. While closely related to elephants and mammoths, they have a few unique features that set them apart. Compared to mastodons, mammoths were far larger, with some reaching heights of 13 feet and weights of almost 10 tons. Mammoths had flat, ridged molars that looked somewhat like washboards, ideal for grinding grasses. In contrast, Mastodons had molars with cone-like cusps, which were better suited for crushing branches and leaves. Their saber-like tusks were also less curved than those of mammoths, but larger and longer than those of modern elephants. What a mouthful!

Ancient Tools of Destruction

But archaeologists didn’t just find the mastodon bones! They also dug up some original human-made stone tools. Despite dating a few thousand years after the mastodon’s death, these tools are a big deal. They’re the first proof we have of people living in the creek drainage area. Maybe someday someone will dig up my laptop as proof of life or internet memes. Who’s to say?

Murder or Coincidence 

The evidence does beg the question: was this mastodon a victim of a prehistoric hunt? Archaeologists are on the case, searching for clues like cut marks on the bones or other nearby tools. Perhaps even a projectile point or two! Anything that could suggest it was hunted by early humans.

Digsite CSI: Why Solve The Mystery

John Doershuk, director and state archaeologist at the University of Iowa, stated that they’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 the initial butchering. This can help archaeologists figure out if humans actually hunted this creature or just scavenged its remains like a bunch of freeloaders. The truth could rewrite the history of human habitation in Iowa and even show off the advanced tool-making skills of early humans.

The Age of The Mastodon

Guessing someone’s age can be hard. So the team employed radiocarbon dating, which is both more accurate and less offensive. This technique measures the decay of carbon isotopes in organic material. The result was shocking! It showed the skull was from the Quaternary period approximately 13,600 years ago.

Fellow Findings

The Iowa discovery follows another significant find in Mississippi. A fossil hunter, Eddie Templeton, uncovered a well-preserved mammoth tusk while he was out exploring a steep embankment, on the 9th of August. Makes one wonder what else might be just hidden beneath U.S. soil.

Protecting the Dino Discoveries

In Mississippi, the mammoth tusk’s discovery sparked a race to protect it from the elements. Fossils are fragile, the sun alone can dry them out beyond repair. It’s likely archaeologists also had to rush to save the mastodon bones in Iowa. However, preserving ancient fossils is crucial to ensure they remain intact for study and display. Like diamond enthusiasts and 5-year-old dino lovers, I would be devastated if I couldn’t see the real deal up close.

Future Research

The Iowa mastodon discovery opens the door for further research and exploration in the region. Archaeologists may continue to search for more remains or evidence of human interaction with prehistoric creatures. The findings from this excavation could lead to new insights into the lives of both mastodons and the early humans who may have encountered them.

Lovers of Locality

By encouraging people to be curious and explore their surroundings, we can make amazing discoveries and learn more about our history. One observation by a Wayne County resident sparked a major archaeological excavation. It shows you don’t have to study archeology to contribute to scientific knowledge. All you need is a pair of eyes, a dash of curiosity, and a trip outside every once in a while. 

In short

So, there you have it: a 13,600-year-old mastodon possibly slain by humans in Iowa! This discovery is a big deal for scientists who study the past of prehistoric life in North America. But there’s still so much to learn about our bony ancestors. Who knows what other secrets are buried out there? Aside from some unsolved murders of course.  As researchers continue to study these remains, I look forward to learning more about the ancient creatures that once roamed our world.