Indiana's State Fossil

Indiana's State Fossil

Friday, June 10, 2022

Over the years, Indiana has adopted different symbols to represent our diverse state. The colorful peony is our state flower, and the glowing Say's firefly is our state insect. Until recently, however, Indiana was one of the few states that didn't have a state fossil.

This session, we passed House Enrolled Act 1013, which adopts the mastodon as our state fossil. Around 11,000 years ago, mastodons roamed throughout what is now modern-day Indiana. They were so prevalent in the area that these fossils have been unearthed in nearly all 92 counties.

State symbols are an important way to inform more people about our heritage and culture, and HEA 1013 provides educational opportunities for all Hoosiers and visitors to learn about what once existed where we now live, as well as dig into our past in a new and meaningful way.

To learn more about HEA 1013 as well as other laws passed this session, click here.