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These could be incredibly valuable to future astronauts hoping to settle on the moon, acting as a convenient shelter for a lunar base.

The cave is accessible through a pit in the well-studied Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility). This is a large basin made mostly of basalt. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin touched down in this region on July 20 1969.

While Mare Tranquillitatis isn’t likely to be the first place humans try to settle on the moon, the existence of one cave makes the existence of others very likely, so scientists now expect there to be others in locations more suitable for human settlement.

In an unexpected turn of events, a two-week archaeological dig unearthed a remarkably intact mastodon skull in a creek that might carry signs of human life too.

Over twelve days, archaeologists unearthed several mastodon bones. However, the skull, being “the first-ever well-preserved” artifact of its kind, makes it a significant find with potential connections to human history.

“We’re really hoping to find evidence of human interaction with this creature — perhaps the projectile points and knives that were used to kill the animal and do initial butchering,” John Doershuk, director and state archaeologist at the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) said.