Ice Age and other Mammals
(Mammalia)
|
This page deals with the almost fossilized bones and teeth of the mammals from the Pleistocene or Ice Age. During the
Pleistocene, New Jersey would have looked more like Alaska during the colder spells but much like it is today during the
warmer in between periods. When found these bones look very similar to modern bone and is usually brown to black in color. It
should be noted that colonial aged mammal bones can also be somewhat permineralized and can be confused with the
Pleistocene fauna. Adding to the confusion is that the area adjacent to Big Brook is farmland as well as somewhat forested and
inhabited by modern mammals. So it is very common to find modern deer and muskrat mixed with the bones of colonial cow
and pig. One can see the difficulties to the amateur in identifying the occurrence of Ice Age mammals.