SCIENTISTS have discovered an ancient mastodon skull that could show important clues about the creature’s interactions with humans.

The skull is thought to be almost 14,000 years old and was found in pristine condition.

The mastodon skull was discovered earlier this month in Iowa by archaeologistsCredit: Office of the State Archaeologist, Iowa

Mastodons are thought to have become extinct around 10,500 years ago (stock image)Credit: Getty

The skull was discovered in pristine condition, according to archaeologistsCredit: Office of the State Archaeologist, Iowa

It was excavated earlier this month in Wayne County, Iowa, about an hour and a half drive from Des Moines, according to FOX affiliate WITI.

The mastodon skull was thought to be around 13,600 years old, according to radiocarbon dating.

This time frame corresponds to when humans occupied the area.

Archaeologists are hoping that the mastodon skull will provide clues about human interactions with the animal.

“We’re hoping to find evidence of human interaction with this creature – perhaps the projectile points and knives that were used to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 the animal and do initial butchering,” said John Doershuk, director at the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) in Iowa.

“There’s also potential evidence on the bones themselves – there could be identifiable cut marks,” he added.

The full excavation process took almost two weeks to complete.

The OSA was first made aware of potential interest in the excavation site in 2022.

According to Iowa Archeology, this mastodon skull is the “first ever well-preserved mastodon (primarily the skull) that has been excavated in Iowa.”

The bones of the skull will be displayed at a new exhibition at the Prairie Trails Museum once conservation and analysis are complete.

This will be carried out at the University of Iowa.

WHAT ARE MASTODONS?

Mastodons are large mammals that are quite similar to elephants.

They roamed North America from about 3.5 million years ago to about 10,500 years ago.

Mastodons reportedly became extinct due to human hunting and shifts in the climate.

This is just one of the numerous shocking discoveries scientists have made in recent times.

SHOCKING DISCOVERY

A giant claw of a moa bird was unearthed in Mount Owen, New Zealand.

The animal has been extinct for almost 800 years, making the discovery quite the breakthrough.

Another surprising discovery was made in Russia after a nearly perfectly preserved woolly rhino was found by miners.

Shocked workers found the 10,000-year-old beast while digging for gold.

Meanwhile, scientists made a shocking finding about the famous Shroud of Turin earlier this month.

The piece of linen is imprinted with the image of a bearded man and believers have previously claimed that Jesus was wrapped in the shroud before he was buried.

Now new evidence suggests that the cloth was made around 2,000 years ago – the same period in which he was said to have lived and died.

The skull is thought to be around 13,600 years old and could give archaeologists clues about human interaction with the creatureCredit: Office of the State Archaeologist, Iowa

Mastodons were similar to elephants and could be found in North America before they went extinct (stock image)Credit: AP