Mastodon's Tooth Found

Jamestown Press
Jamestown, [Boone County] Indiana
Thursday , 11 October 1900

A Mastodon's tooth was found Monday in James Erganbright's gravel pit, south of town, while gravel haulers were taking gravel out of the pit. The tooth was one of a set of grinders fartherat [sic] back in the head, and was about 8 inches long, about three and one half inches broad and about five to six inches deep. It was in considerable state of decay, as the upper portion, which connected with the flesh, was crumbly. Although the points of the grinders were very hard. Thompson Henry, supervisor of that road district, brought the relic through town and showed it to several persons. The Mastodon is one of the extinct animals of the prehistoric ages, and was one of the largest animals to exist in the world. They somewhat resemble the elephant and were and animal of long hair. Tusks of this animal nearly eighty feet length have been found. There is no telling how long the tooth may have lain buried in that gravel pit. It may have been there several thousand years, as the animal has been extinct, supposedly for two thousand years.

Transcribed by: Janet Isley Price.