Archeologists correct fossil finding

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