Lot 1
North America, Eastern United States, New Jersey, early Pliocene to end of the Pleistocene, Ice Age, ca. 5 million to 11,000 years old. A massive, fossilized femur bone from the extinct mastodon - Mammut americanum. This leg bone is well preserved and presented with the trochanter joint standing upright - the large bulbous area would fit into the hip socket. The surface has fossilized into a deep brown hue and makes for an impressive and beautiful specimen. Mastodons had a similar appearance to modern-day elephants, with a more muscular build and possibly short fur. Some of the largest mastodons grew up to 10.7 feet tall at the shoulders and weighed about 8.6 US tons - this femur helps visualize the size of these animals! Mastodons have been discovered across North America, but in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic the melting glaciers left behind lush forests - the ideal landscape for these creatures, as they were herbivores that grazed on twigs and branches, rather than grasses. Size: 15" L x 43.5" H (38.1 cm x 110.5 cm); 44" H (111.8 cm) on included custom stand.
When initially discovered, Mastodons were especially regarded for their teeth, which actually gave the animal its name. French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1817 dubbed these fossilized remains as mastodons meaning "nipple teeth" because of their shape. These nipple shaped teeth were suited for mashing leaves and twigs rather than grasses; mastodons lived in forested environments, unlike mammoths, who lived in open grasslands. This is an impressive piece, from one of North America's largest prehistoric megafaunas!
Provenance: private Berthoud, Colorado, USA collection
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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#169478
- Condition: Professionally prepared with some infill to joint areas, approximately 90% original material. Stable fissures as expected with fossilization process. Great coloration throughout.
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