A ten-thousand-year-old find could come from a steppe elephant. The tusk has now been uncovered and recovered. However, there is still a question about the finder’s fee.
A bike ride ended Saturday with a sensational find for eight-year-old Henri Pingitzer in Mattersburg: the boy discovered a tusk about 6 feet long. The horn was about four meters deep. Earth was excavated on site for a retention basin – the ideal place for the enthusiastic amateur archaeologist for his “research”.
Archaeologist notified
Henri says he was the first to find stones. Then he saw something sticking out of the ground that looked like petrified wood. But upon closer inspection he realized it was a horn. The municipality and the well-known archaeologist Dorothea Talaa were then informed.
Waiting for report
The exact dating and analysis are still pending. The tusk may have come from a long-extinct steppe elephant or mastodon. “We are currently waiting for the paleontological report that can clearly confirm this,” says Mayor Claudia Schlager. The find has now been uncovered and must now be recovered, prepared and ultimately exhibited in Mattersburg.
Is there a finder’s fee?
However, the issue of the finder’s fee is still open. For Norbert Pingitzer, state observer of the Monument Protection Association, the legal situation is clear: as the finder, his grandson is entitled to half, even if the property is owned by the city. The hand is extended to the city, says Pingitzer. But if necessary, he can also imagine taking legal action.
For Henri, the joy that he has made such an important discovery prevails. These types of finds are rare. “I am very happy with it and when it is exhibited in Mattersburg I can always look at it,” says the amateur archaeologist.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
