Peale's Barber Farm Mastodon Exhumation Site

Peale's Barber Farm Mastodon Exhumation Site is an archaeological location in Montgomery, New York, where researchers uncovered the skeletal remains of an extinct mastodon during early 1800s investigations. The site covers land that was carefully excavated to extract these ancient bones from the earth.

In 1801, Charles Willson Peale led the excavation at this location and recovered the first completely articulated skeleton of a prehistoric animal. This exhumation marked a turning point in natural history and demonstrated that ancient remains could be systematically recovered and preserved.

The mastodon skeleton from this location traveled between museums, enriching scientific understanding at both the Smithsonian and the Hessisches Landesmuseum in Darmstadt.

The location is situated in the Montgomery area and can be visited during daylight hours, with it being helpful to check road conditions beforehand. On-site information is available about the historical excavation and the techniques that were used to uncover the remains.

The bones recovered from the excavation were later transported to different museums and contributed to scientific understanding across the world. This movement of the skeletal remains between institutions allowed researchers from different countries to study the material and generate new insights.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 41.52639,-74.21778

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:00