A mastodon jaw was concealed by a plant in a Scotchtown family's yard. Now it's part of Orange County's growing list of fossil finds.

The well-preserved jaw belonged to an adult mastodon, a distant relative of modern elephants.The jaw will undergo detailed study to uncover insights into the mastodon’s age, diet, and life during the Ice Age.

“When I found the teeth and examined them in my hands, I knew they were something special and decided to call in the experts,” the Orange County resident said in the NYSM’s December 17th announcement, adding that he was “thrilled” by the discovery.