Fossils of ten pygmy hippos have been found during excavations on the Greek holiday island of Crete. According to the researchers, the fossilized remains can be dated to 350,000 BC.
Paleontologist Giorgos Lyras spoke of a “significant discovery” on Monday. For the first time “such a high concentration of pygmy hippopotamus fossils has been found in Greece,” the expert from the University of Athens told AFP.
Discovery at 1100 meters above sea level
The university’s excavations began last week at Mount Katharo in the east of the island at an elevation of 1,100 meters and will continue through next weekend. “We expect to find an even greater number of hippopotamus fossils,” Lyras said.
Their existence has been known since the 18th century, but “this is the first time scientific excavations have been carried out to unearth them”. In September, the excavations will continue until the winter break.
Also dwarf elephants on Greek islands
Fossils of other endemic animals have already been discovered on the Greek Aegean islands, such as dwarf elephants on the Dodecanese islands of Tilos and Rhodes or on the Cyclades island of Naxos.
Source: Krone
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