3-meter-long Pre-historic Ivory Found in Maragheh

04 March 2005

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.

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