http://blogs.colgate.edu/2008/12/big-fossils-ferried-across-qua.html Latest comments for Big fossils ferried across Quad to new museum home en-us Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:22:43 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://blogs.colgate.edu/2008/12/big-fossils-ferried-across-qua.html#comments <p>In recent weeks the geology department has had considerable discussions regarding the nature of the tusk, and the final verdict is still out. </p> <p>Both mammoth and mastodon tusks, and teeth, have been found in the central New York area. Some familiar with the matter, as Dr. Rankin is, point out that the mastodon tusk is shorter and less curved than the tusk of the mammoth (see, for example, images and descriptions provided at websites of the New York State Museum, the Museum of the Earth, and the American Museum of Natural History).</p> <p>Yet, some additional research by a few department members regarding the nature of the tusk has revealed several pictures and descriptions of (alleged) mastodon tusks that look very similar in length and shape to the Colgate tusk.</p> <p>The teeth of the mastodon and mammoth are distinctive, having evolved for different feeding strategies, and can provide incontrovertible evidence.</p> <p>What the geology department needs to do is mount an expedition back to the site of the tusk find and see if we can unearth additional fossil evidence for the nature of the beast.</p> <p>Sounds like a wonderful student research project!</p> <p><br /> Rich April,<br /> Dunham Beldon Jr. Professor of Geology and Natural Sciences</p> <p>- Rich April</p> comment000464@http://blogs.colgate.edu/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:22:43 -0500 http://blogs.colgate.edu/2008/12/big-fossils-ferried-across-qua.html#comments <p>The tusk shown in the picture looks more like a woolly mammoth tusk than a mastodon tusk. Mastodon tusks are shorter and gently curved but not curled like the one being moved. In Connecticut we have reported the fossil remains of 5 mastodons but no woolly mammoths so far. In any case it is a neat specimen! Comments? Don</p> <p>- Don Rankin, M.D. '62</p> comment000462@http://blogs.colgate.edu/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:41:31 -0500 http://blogs.colgate.edu/2008/12/big-fossils-ferried-across-qua.html#comments <p>Geology ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!</p> <p>- John Lundquist</p> comment000455@http://blogs.colgate.edu/ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:19:49 -0500