In Germany, a pair of school-aged boys made an extraordinary discovery of prehistoric elephant bones deep beneath the earth. These ancient bones, dating back approximately 10 million years, belong to the long-tusked Deinotherium elephant, a distant relative of modern elephants. The boys stumbled upon the discovery last year and presented it to the public at a museum in Taufkirchen, northeast of Munich. The museum features an impressive collection of artifacts from prehistoric times.
Researchers have confirmed that the discovered bones belonged to Deinotherium elephants, which became extinct and were different from their modern counterparts. The individuals who owned these bones are said to have lived in Germany outside of Munich. The boys, aged 10 and 9, initially found one bone that was almost crushed during their excavation. Despite a near-miss with a falling boulder, the bone survived the impact entirely, much to everyone’s surprise.
Further excavations were conducted in the area near Weipersdorf village where the initial discovery was made. A total of 120 bones were discovered, some of which were damaged and fragile. Deinotherium existed during the Miocene period in Europe, Africa, and Asia and could weigh up to 12 tons while standing up to four meters tall. Its long tusks and teeth adapted for forest foods set it apart from modern elephants. Unlike modern elephants and mammoths, Deinotherium did not adapt well to changes in climate and vegetation during the ice ages leading to its extinction without leaving any descendants behind. This remarkable find sheds light on the history and evolution of elephants as well as other prehistoric creatures.