According to AFP, on July 30 (local time), Director of the Regional Museum of History Nikolay Nenov said that the bone fragments discovered near the city of Ruse in northeastern Bulgaria are believed to belong to a curly-haired mammoth living in the Ice Age.
The fossil fragments were accidentally discovered by a resident of Ryahovo village, in the Ruse region, on July 29, before being collected by museum experts on July 30.
To date, experts have identified 1 part of the jawbone, ivory fragments, 1 part of the shoulder blade and femoral bone still intact in the top joint of the animal.
According to Mr. Nenov, this mammoth is believed to be young. The dark color of the bone fragments suggests that it may have been preserved in the swamp environment for a long time.
Mr. Nenov affirmed that this is an important discovery because the bone fragments are preserved in good condition and concentrated in the same location, showing that they are likely belonging to the same individual.
Curly mammoths used to live with prehistoric humans. Humans hunted grass-eating animals adapting to this cold climate for food, and used their tusks and bones as tools.
Believed to have been extinct for about 4,000 years, this species still leaves many traces. For decades, scientists have continuously discovered fossilized ivory, bones, teeth and fur in many parts of the world.
Experts are planning to conduct a new survey in this area with the hope of finding more fossils.
