13,600-Year-Old Mastodon Skull Unearthed in Iowa

Discovery may provide insights into early human interaction with ancient megafauna in North America.

Archaeologists spent 12 days excavating the well-preserved skull in Wayne County, Iowa.
The mastodon lived around the same time as the first humans in the region, about 13,600 years ago.
Stone tools found at the site date to a few thousand years after the mastodon's death.
Researchers are analyzing the skull for evidence of human interaction, such as cut marks.
The skull and other bones will be displayed at the Prairie Trails Museum after conservation and analysis.