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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Mastodon Tooth
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Mastodon Tooth

Artifact IDMO 1941.12.23
Object Type Specimen, Animal
Mediumfossilized tooth, stone (marble), metal (brass)
Dimensionsoverall H 3 1/2 in x W 4 1/2 in x D 8 1/2 in (8.9 cm x 11.4 cm x 21.6 cm )
Physical DescriptionA large mastodon tooth with five cusps. The tooth sits on a rectangular white marble base to which is fixed a small brass plaque with an inscription that reads: Colombian Mastodon tooth / from private excavation by / Alejandro Olvares Malo, / Bogota. / Presented to President / Franklin D. Roosevelt / upon his visit to Cartagena / July 1934.

An adhesive sticker on the underside of the base has the number: D-25-14-a. An additional adhesive sticker on the underside of the tooth has the handwritten number: D-25-14-b.
Historical NoteThis mastodon tooth was unearthed in Colombia. It was presented to Franklin Roosevelt by Alejandro Olvares Malo of Bogata during the President’s July 1934 visit to Cartagena, Colombia. The mastodon has been extinct for more than 10,000 years.

Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 20, 1940. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view