|
A
3 meter long, half a meter thick ivory, probably
dating to some two to seven million years ago have
been discovered in Maragheh in Eastern Azarbaijan,
where previously other fossils were also found.
Maragheh is a fossil rich site which is considered
one of the major site of its kind not only in
Iran, but also throughout the world, extending in
an area more than 4000 hectares. It is noteworthy
around the world due to the vertebral fossils
specially those of the third geology period found
there.
According to expert with Iran’s Natural History
Museum, Amir Hussein Kokabinezhad, the primary
studies of the ivory identifies it as belonging to
a Mastodon, an ancestor of today’s elephants
living in the prehistoric times.
The ivory, the length of which has surprised the
archaeologists, has brought them hope that other
parts of the gigantic animal could be found too,
and the Mastodon’s habitat would reveal itself
to the experts.
The ivory has now been transferred to the Tabriz
University to be restored and consolidated.
The Paleontology studies in Iran were resumed two
years ago in Maragheh fossil rich sites, after the
American experts left the area and all work came
to a halt for some 26 years. The new series of
studies have so far led to the discovery of
footprints of dinosaurs and fossils belonging to
gigantic creatures.
Top
of Page
Source:
Relevant
News:
|
