7.7 Million Year Old Elephant Skull Reveals Turkey's Ancient Ecosystem

JAKARTA - Three elephant skulls aged 7.7 million years have been found in excavations in Kayseri, central Turkey.

The excavation, which began in 2018 following a report from a local goat herder in 2017 near the Yamali Dam, continues under the supervision of the Kayseri Museum Directorate and with support from Kayseri City.

Located in the Kocasinan District along the Kryptulbarmak River, this excavation site has uncovered a variety of fossils, including remnants of prehistoric giraffes, elephants, mammoths, rhinos, three-fingered horses (before blending into modern nails), hornless sheep known as bovid, goats, antiples, turtles, and pigs.

Archaeologists r\'emer Da living told Anadolu Agency his team had been digging around the dam, and this year most of it produced elephant fossils.

"We can refer to this year as the year of the elephant," said Da total, quoted from the Daily Sabah, October 15.

"Since excavations began in 2018, we have found two skulls. But this year, in just one season, we found three," he added, noting that although the ivory was slightly damaged, one skull was found with its lower jaw intact.

Radiometric analysis shows the age of excavation sites in Kayseri is around 7.7 million years, with most of the elephant fossils found in the Cevril area, now dubbed the "elephant zone."

"This season is very rich in elephant findings," said Da totaling, while noting the fossils were found with intervals of 100 to 300 meters (328 to 984 feet).

Da airman emphasized the importance of this excavation given the size and sustainability of the megafauna fossil, which has attracted international scientific attention.

"The elephant concentration at certain points and densities that are observed provides insight into the site's paleogeography", Da aired.

Da fiream menambahkan, berbagai spesies gajah memiliki kebiasaan makan yang berbagai. "Several digi di daerah swamp dengan jaw bawahnya, sementara yang lain mem eating pucuk pohon, terkadangnya," sambil mencatat beragam lokasi fosil memenangungi paleogegrafi periode tersebut.

In addition to the remains of the elephant, this season the team also found three-fingered horse fossils, rhinos and sword-stringed tigers.