Photos via Claire Terhune
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – New fossil research from one of Europe’s most important paleontological sites shows a wide variety of animal species, adding a wonderful terrestrial ape, a short-necked giraffe, rhinos and saber-toothed cats.
These and other species roamed the open meadows of Eastern Europe in the early Pleistocene about 2 million years ago. Ultimately, researchers expect the fossils to provide clues as to how and when early humans migrated to Eurasia from Africa. Reconstructions of environments beyond this one can also better perceive long-term climate change.
“My colleagues and I are very happy to draw attention to the Grunceanu fossil site and the prospective fossil of the Olte River Valley in Romania,” said Claire Terhune, associate professor of anthropology at the University of Arkansas. “It’s such a diverse community. We discovered several animals that were obviously not known before in the domain, and many are no longer discovered in Europe. Of course, we believe that these discoveries alone are interesting, but they also have vital implications for early humans to reach the continent right now.
About two hundred kilometers west of the Romanian capital of Bucharest, the Olte River Valley, which adds up to the vital site of Grunceanu, is one of the richest fossil deposits in Eastern Europe. Many fossil sites in the Olte Valley, adding Grunceanu, were discovered in the 1960s after landslides caused in component through deforestation due to increased agricultural activity in the region.
Archaeologists and paleontologists at the Emil Racovio Institute of Speleology excavated the sites shortly after their discovery. Fossils were recovered and stored in the institute, and academic publications on sites flourished in the 1970s and 1980s. But interest in these fossils and sites has declined for more than 20 to 30 years, in part because so many records of excavations and fossils have been lost.
Since 2012, the foreign team, which adds Terhune and researchers from Romania, the United States, Sweden and France, has focused on this fossil region. His paintings have included an extensive fossil identity in the institute and more field paintings.
In addition to the mentioned species, researchers have known fossil remains of animals such as moose, bison, deer, horses, ostriches, pigs and many others. They also met a fossil species of pangolin, believed to have existed in Europe in the early Pleistocene, but which has not been solidly demonstrated until now. Today, pangolins, which resemble the mixture of an armadillo and an anteater and are among the most trafficked animals in the world, are discovered only in Asia and Africa.
Researchers’ paintings have been at Quaternary International.
About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides worldwide competitive education to undergraduate and graduate academics in more than two hundred college programs. The university brings new knowledge, economic development, fundamental and implemented studies and artistic activity while offering to educational and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation ranks the University of Arkansas among less than 3% of U.S. schools and universities with the highest point of study activity. U.S. News – World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its most sensible American public studies universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas contains 10 schools and schools and maintains a low student-per-teacher ratio that promotes non-public care and close tutoring.
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