Exciting Discovery: LSU Scientists Uncover Ice Age Mastodon Remains in West Feliciana Parish Creek!

James Gregory was knee-deep in No Name Creek when he spotted something unusual. The roots sticking out of the bank looked like small stalagmites, but they were more than just roots. He gathered his friend Mason Kirkland, a paleontology expert, to investigate. What they found would change everything.

On that chilly January morning, just after an unusual snowfall in southern Louisiana, they unearthed fascinating treasures—a root system attached to teeth. The teeth matched those belonging to a large creature. At that moment, Kirkland knew they had stumbled upon the remains of a mastodon.

The duo eventually uncovered a short, intact tusk, leading them to believe that the mastodon might have been a young female, around 35 years old. Experts had confirmed this, adding another layer of intrigue to their find. Interestingly, this wasn’t the first mastodon discovered in the region. In 1994, remains were found at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and are now displayed in the LSU Museum of Natural History.

Kirkland decided to name their discovery the “No Name Creek Mastodon.” Their adventures didn’t stop there; they have continued exploring the creek, despite challenges like heavy rains shifting the terrain. This research hopes to uncover even more fossils, with plans to loan their findings for public display eventually.

So, what exactly is a mastodon? Picture a creature akin to a modern elephant, but with unique traits—a flatter head and reddish-brown fur, not to mention cone-shaped molars made for crushing leaves and twigs. These creatures were prevalent in North America between 30 million and 10,000 years ago, but were often confused with woolly mammoths, which appeared later.

Finding fossils, especially of mastodons, is rare and often requires hard work and a spirit of adventure. Gregory and Kirkland face rugged terrains and mud, but the thrill of discovery drives them forward. Their story is not just about unearthing ancient bones; it’s about the joy of searching in nature, the whispers of history they uncover, and the shared excitement of scientific exploration.

As they continue this journey in the uncharted waters of No Name Creek, they remind us of the wonders hidden in our own backyards. The thrill of discovery, nature’s challenges, and the rich history beneath our feet offer a treasure no map can detail.



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