Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Ancient Mastodon Tooth Unearthed in California Creek

A geomorphologist discovered a remarkably preserved ancient mastodon molar while conducting fieldwork in California's San Mateo County. The find has generated excitement among paleontologists.

Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist, found the object in a creek and, after a reverse image search, suspected it might be an Ice Age mastodon tooth. Paleontologist Wayne Thompson confirmed it as an exceptionally well-preserved molar from an adult Mammut pacificus, or Pacific mastodon.

Pacific mastodons, an extinct elephant-like herbivore species, roamed areas including modern-day California from 2.5 million years ago to about 11,700 years ago. They differed from mammoths in their stockier build, shorter tusks, and diet, as mastodons were browsers while mammoths ate grasses.

The discovered molar is described as the most complete and spectacular from the region. Its intact condition suggests the mastodon's skull might also be nearby. While mastodon fossils are not exceptionally rare, this find is notable for its preservation.

The tooth was retrieved from the creek and kept in water to prevent decay. It has been donated to Stanford University's Doerr School of Sustainability for age determination and to create a replica for public education. Another mastodon tooth was found on a California beach in 2023.

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