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Greek mastodon find 'spectacular' | Greek mastodon find 'spectacular' |
(1 day later) | |
The remains of a prehistoric mastodon - a mammoth-like animal - have been found in northern Greece, including intact long tusks. | The remains of a prehistoric mastodon - a mammoth-like animal - have been found in northern Greece, including intact long tusks. |
A Dutch scientist at the site, Dick Mol, says the find near Grevena should help explain why mastodons died out in Europe two to three million years ago. | A Dutch scientist at the site, Dick Mol, says the find near Grevena should help explain why mastodons died out in Europe two to three million years ago. |
The mastodon's tusks measure 5m (16.5ft) and 4m, Mr Mol told the BBC. | The mastodon's tusks measure 5m (16.5ft) and 4m, Mr Mol told the BBC. |
They are the longest tusks ever found on a prehistoric elephant-like animal. "It is spectacular," Mr Mol said. | They are the longest tusks ever found on a prehistoric elephant-like animal. "It is spectacular," Mr Mol said. |
Early humans ate mastodon meat (pic: by Remie Bakker)There have also been rare mastodon finds in northern Europe, notably in England, Germany and the Netherlands. | |
Mastodons are thought to have first appeared about five million years ago and became extinct in North America about 10,000 years ago - much later than in Europe. | |
The animals were similar to woolly mammoths, but had tusks that pointed forwards, rather than spiralling upwards. Their teeth were also different. | The animals were similar to woolly mammoths, but had tusks that pointed forwards, rather than spiralling upwards. Their teeth were also different. |
The team of palaeontologists, including Professor Evangelia Tsoukala of Greece's Aristotle University in Thessaloniki (Salonica), began the excavation on 16 July and is planning to finish it on Wednesday. | The team of palaeontologists, including Professor Evangelia Tsoukala of Greece's Aristotle University in Thessaloniki (Salonica), began the excavation on 16 July and is planning to finish it on Wednesday. |
Thigh bones and teeth were also dug up (pic: Prof Evangelia Tsoukala, 2007)Scientists will study the remains at a research centre in the Milia region of northern Greece, and there are hopes that some of the creature's DNA is still intact, Mr Mol told the BBC News website. | |
Various parts of the skeleton have been dug up, along with teeth. | |
The animal's height was about 3.5m at the shoulder and it probably weighed some six tonnes. The mastodon feasted on leaves, unlike the woolly mammoth, which grazed. | |
Eventually, the specimen will go on display at a museum in Milia. |