13-year-old Tyler Kellett stands behind a rare fossil of a mastadon tusk he and his friend, Jake Carstensen found in a creek bed about 25 miles southwest of Denver.
DENVER -
Two teenagers made a significant scientific discovery of rare mastodon fossils in a creek bed in southwest metro Denver. Tyler Kellett and Jake Carstensen found a jaw bone and tusk of an American mastodon. It was a discovery that dazzled scientists.
The remains of the prehistoric elephant relative could be 50,000 to 150,000 years old. Experts from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science excavated the site and volunteers will preserve the fossils.
The boys found the fossils while exploring near their homes in Ken Caryl Ranch June 1. "It's exciting and one of the best things that's ever happened to me," said 13 year old Kellett.
"It's expensive to do, but I hope we can find more and keep digging," said Carstensen.
The museum's chief curator says mastodons are quite rare in Colorado. This is just the third discovery on record and definitely the best. "A single find made by two cool kids in Southwest Denver could have real significance," Kirk Johnson said.
The museum will further assess the site and determine if further excavation is warranted. The boys hope so. They want to find the entire mastodon.
The remains of the prehistoric elephant relative could be 50,000 to 150,000 years old. Experts from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science excavated the site and volunteers will preserve the fossils.
The boys found the fossils while exploring near their homes in Ken Caryl Ranch June 1. "It's exciting and one of the best things that's ever happened to me," said 13 year old Kellett.
"It's expensive to do, but I hope we can find more and keep digging," said Carstensen.
The museum's chief curator says mastodons are quite rare in Colorado. This is just the third discovery on record and definitely the best. "A single find made by two cool kids in Southwest Denver could have real significance," Kirk Johnson said.
The museum will further assess the site and determine if further excavation is warranted. The boys hope so. They want to find the entire mastodon.
