Archeologists correct fossil finding
Indra Harsaputra, Nganjuk
Archeologists have concluded that fossils discovered by a farmer in Nganjuk regency, East Java, last month belonged to a prehistoric bovine and not an ancient elephant as originally assumed.
"At first, we had difficulty determining the kind of animal because the skeleton was physically similar to that of an ancient elephant. But after a series of examinations, we concluded that the fossils were the remains of a prehistoric bovine that existed 7,000 years ago," said Hari Widiyanto, an archeologist with the Yogyakarta Archeological Board.
The head of the archeological supervision division at the Trowulan Archeological Heritage Preservation Board, Jamiat Rukmono, reported on July 26 that based on initial examinations, fossils found by Nasukan, a farmer in Klurahan village, were those of an ancient mammoth (Stegedon trigonocephalus).
Fossils of ancient elephants have been found in northern parts of Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, up to the Timor archipelago and in Australia.
Hari said a closer examination of the fossils' teeth, with pointed roots, made clear that the experts were looking at an ancient bovine.
"The serial teeth were earlier thought to be the pointed nails of a prehistoric elephant or tiger, but after a series of tests they were in fact found to be the serial teeth of an ancient cow," he said.
He added that it had been determined that the total length of the animal discovered was 115 centimeters. It was also 72 centimeters in width and had 18 intact rib bones, measuring 12 to 37 centimeters each.
The length of the lower hind leg bone is 25 centimeters, the upper hind leg bone measures 30 cm, the upper foreleg 22 centimeters and the lower foreleg 28 centimeters.
The length of the vertebrae is 67 centimeters and the tail bone measures 25 centimeters.
Nganjuk Tourism and Culture Office head Abdul Ghafur said the East Java provincial administration had requested that the fossils be displayed at the Nganjuk Anjul Ladang Museum.
"It would be preferable for the fossils to be kept in Nganjuk to help teach people about the origins of the province," he said.
Prehistoric elephant fossils discovered in East Java
1. Fossilized tusks found in Trinil, Ngawi, year not known.
2. 1988, in Kening River, a tributary of the Bengawan Solo River, Tuban regency. The fossil of a thigh bone broken in three pieces.
3. Nov. 6, 1992, in Jati hamlet, Kedung Mulyo subdistrict, Tuban regency. Fragments of thigh bones of an ancient elephant, lower jaw bone, rib bones, molar teeth and tusks.
4. June 2, 2003, in Gedangan hamlet, Jolotundo subdistrict, Mojokerto regency. A skull fossil measuring 89 centimeters in length, with a width of 62 centimeters, and a jaw bone 52 centimeters long and 24 centimeters wide. The person who made the find, Marjono, 40, received Rp 7,500,000 (US$833) from the government for his discovery.
5. June, 2004, in Punung district, Pacitan regency. Rib bones of an ancient elephant found and are still being examined.
Source: The Trowulan Archeological Heritage Preservation Board in Mojokerto