Iowa State archaeologists discover sabertooth cat skull near Shenandoah
The animal is estimated to have died over 13,000 years ago
The animal is estimated to have died over 13,000 years ago
The animal is estimated to have died over 13,000 years ago
Iowa archeologists made an incredible discovery recently.
Scientists found a sabertooth cat skull in Page County, which is in the southwest part of the state.
They said it's the first evidence that the predator once lived in Iowa.
"It's a very big deal," associate professor of anthropology Dr. Matthew Hill told Iowa State University. "Large predators, like the sabertooth cat, outside of Southern California, they're extremely rare, and there's probably only about 70 of these specimens across the country."
The discovery was made near the East Nishnabotna River in Iowa.
People that live near the river in Shenandoah can't believe it.
"That's insane ... I'm blown away ... That's history right there," local Gerrard Brannen said.
"That's a miracle that it was even found," local Elaine Thompson said. "That's a part of history."
"It's stuff that you see on TV that you never see in your backyard cause that's like depending on where it's at, it's probably literally like 10 miles from my house too," Thompson said.
Researchers believe the cat was a two-year-old male and estimate it weighed around 550 pounds when it died.
For context, that's 150 pounds bigger than an African lion.
"Glad it's not roaming around now," Thompson said.
Researchers also suspect that the sabertooth cat ate a 10-foot tall, over 2,000-pound giant sloth.
They plan to study the skull to learn more.