A New York man has unearthed a mastodon jaw sticking out of the topsoil in the backyard of his home, the first such find in more than 11 years.

Researchers alerted to the stunning scientific discovery in Orange County spent about two and a half days digging inside the house, uncovering additional mastodon bone fragments and a complete adult jaw.

Mastodons are related to today’s elephants and the now extinct mammoths. Historians say the ancient animals lived all over the Earth, but only fossils found in North America could be accurately identified.

“I am very pleased that our property has produced such an important find for the scientific community,” the homeowner said in a statement.

“When I found the teeth and examined them in my hands, I knew they were special and decided to call in the experts,” he said.

The mastodon jaw, recovered by staff at the New York State Museum and the State University of New York, is well preserved and may provide information about what creatures lived in the area during the Ice Age.

“This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this magnificent species, which will improve our understanding of the region’s glacial ecosystems,” says Dr. Robert Feranec, research and collections director and curator of Ice Age animals at the New York State Museum, said in a statement.

According to the New York State Museum, over 150 mastodon fossils have been found in New York, a third of them specifically from Orange County.

“While the jaw is the star of the show, the additional toe and rib fragments provide valuable context and the potential for additional research,” said Dr. Cory Harris, chair of the behavioral sciences department at SUNY Orange. “We also hope to further explore the immediate area to see if any additional bones remain.”

Mastodons became extinct about 13,000 years ago.

The creatures are related to today’s elephant, but had flatter skulls and smaller ears.

Mastodons also resembled now-extinct mammoths with their long upper tusks, but were shorter and stockier.