Excavations in the Saltville Valley of southwestern Virginia have revealed rare, significant Late Pleistocene fossils of the giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus), dating to approximately \(14,500\)–\(14,800\) years ago.

As the first carnivoran recorded there, these remains, including teeth and bones, demonstrate that this massive, top-tier predator scavenged on mammoths in the region, offering crucial evidence for the area’s paleoecology. 

Key Discovery: Researchers, including those from East Tennessee State University (ETSU), identified Arctodus simus remains in the Saltville Valley, a site known for its abundant Ice Age megafauna.

Evidence of Scavenging: The fossils, specifically dental and skeletal material, show that the short-faced bear fed on mammoth carcasses in the area. The find includes a mammoth heel bone, or calcaneus, with clear bite marks.

Significance: The Saltville Arctodus find is notable as one of the most eastern records for the species and provides a specific, direct radiocarbon date (approx. \(14,853\) BP) for their presence in the Appalachian Highlands.

The Predator: The giant short-faced bear was one of the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivores in North America, with a very powerful bite designed for bone-crushing and, likely, stealing carcasses from smaller predators.

Ongoing Research: The Saltville Valley continues to be a rich site for paleontological research, with the bear fossils contributing to a deeper understanding of the interactions between extinct species at the end of the Pleistocene epoch.