Excavations on a farm in South Egremont, Massachusetts, have unearthed the remains of a mastodon, estimated to be approximately 11,500 years old. The discovery, made in June 2023, includes mastodon bones and white spruce cones, both of which have been radiocarbon dated by Geochron Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The mastodon bones and cones were found about 10 feet deep in a bog on the property. The radiocarbon dating results indicate a range of 10,145 to 8,835 B.C. for the bone fragments and 10,150 to 9,210 B.C. for the cones. This discovery marks only the third mastodon found in the state of Massachusetts, highlighting the rarity of such fossils in the Berkshires due to glacial activity millions of years ago.
Experts believe the mastodon may have become trapped in the bog while seeking water or possibly being chased by hunters. The bog's moist environment and protective layers preserved the remains for millennia. The discovery is considered a significant piece of natural history, offering insights into the Berkshires during the late Pleistocene epoch.
However, the most intriguing aspect of this discovery lies in the potential for uncovering evidence of prehistoric human life. The excavators hope to find Native American artifacts within the bog, which could provide definitive proof of human presence in the Berkshires dating back 11,500 years. Such a discovery would be groundbreaking, as no evidence of human life in the region from that period has been found before.