GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The bones of a mastodon found outside Grand Rapids in 2022 have been restored and are almost ready to go on display to the public.
The bones have been undergoing restoration at the Community Archives and Research Center for the Grand Rapids Public Museum since being discovered two years ago.
Dr. Corey Redman has led the effort to clean and piece together the 80% intact specimen.
“It’s been pretty fun because you feel like you are taking the next big step in getting it out on exhibit and showing everybody,” Redman said.
The next step is 3D scanning each and every bone and fragment to help gain insight into the creature’s life roughly 13,000 years ago.
“Usually on average you get between 20 and 60%,” said Patrick Fair, a scanning technician. “If you get 80% that’s something. They get a name for themselves because it is important for study.”
The scans will be used to 3D print replicas, which will be assembled into a complete skeleton set to be the centerpiece of an exhibit expected to open in the fall.
You can learn more on the Grand Rapids Public Museum website.