Geomorphologist Discovers 9-Inch Mastodon Tooth in Bay Area Preserve
Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist, discovered a well-preserved, 9-inch fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon in a wooded creek within a San Francisco Bay Area open space preserve in San Mateo County. The fossil has been donated to Stanford University.
Biloxi Gulfport, MS, September 19, 2026 — A significant paleontological find has been made in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a geomorphologist uncovering a well-preserved fossilized tooth belonging to a Pacific mastodon. The discovery was made by Brigid Lynch, who found the 9-inch tooth in a wooded creek located within an open space preserve in San Mateo County.
The tooth, measuring nine inches in length, is a rare specimen of a Pacific mastodon, an extinct relative of modern elephants that once roamed North America. The specific date of discovery was not provided. The fossil was found in a natural setting, within the banks of a creek in a wooded area of a preserve managed for its natural and ecological value.
Following its discovery, the fossilized tooth has been formally donated to Stanford University. The university’s paleontology department will likely undertake further study to determine the exact age of the specimen and contribute to the understanding of prehistoric life in the region. Details regarding the specific department or researcher at Stanford who will be handling the specimen were not immediately available.
The San Mateo County open space preserve where the tooth was found is part of a network of protected lands in the Bay Area, aimed at conserving natural habitats and geological features. Such discoveries highlight the potential for uncovering ancient biological remains within these preserved natural environments.
Mastodons (Mammut americanum) were large, elephant-like mammals that lived in North and Central America during the Pleistocene epoch. The Pacific mastodon is a subspecies or variation known from coastal regions. Their fossils are relatively uncommon, making this find particularly noteworthy for researchers and the scientific community.
Brigid Lynch, the geomorphologist credited with the discovery, has not provided further public comment on the find beyond its initial reporting. The donation to Stanford University ensures the fossil will be preserved and potentially made available for research and educational purposes.
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