In 1799, a New York farmer's shovel hit a 'monster' tooth that triggered an American obsession with Ice Age giants

In the late 18th century, New York farmer John Masten discovered enormous prehistoric bones in marl pits. Artist Charles Willson Peale acquired these remains, embarking on a monumental effort to excavate and assemble America’s first mounted fossil exhibit. This discovery of an American Mastodon challenged European notions of American degeneracy and showcased the nation’s capacity for grand discoveries.

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