How to Find and Excavate a Mastodon

Ten years ago, Stanley McMullin dug a hole and found a mastodon. Bob Grantham, then a geologist with the Museum of Natural History, took the call.

"I dropped the phone, did a little dance and didn't sleep for days afterwards," said Mr. Grantham about hearing the news.

Bob Grantham will talk about the discovery of Marvin the Mastodon on Sunday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. This rare chance to hear about Marvin takes place in the Museum of Natural History auditorium, at 1747 Summer St., Halifax.

Stanley McMullin's bucket of dirt contained bits of a time capsule. Further excavation unearthed green moss, a juvenile turtle, fish, frogs, trees, seeds and cones, dung that miraculously still retained its smell, and the remains of two mastodons.

From this information, Mr. Grantham was able to determine Marvin's age, what his last meal was and how he met his death. Nearly a year later, Mr. McMullin found another mastodon, a six- year-old, which excavators named Stanley.

The company Mr. McMullin worked for, National Gypsum Canada Ltd., played an enormous role in its willingness to support the Museum of Natural History in its recovery of the mastodons. Twenty-five other people also volunteered their time to recover Marvin and Stanley and 10,000 Nova Scotia children received four tons of mud in their schools and were part of the school-based excavation team.

Mastodon Ridge, located in Stewiacke, will also be celebrating the find on Saturday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 21, with live entertainment and fun activities.

For more information on mastodons, see the museum Web site, at museum.gov.ns.ca/fossils/amazing/mastodon.htm .