Scientists in Irkutsk are studying the bones of an ancient rhinoceros found during archaeological excavations on Olkhon Island. At the Tagai site, known since 1955, the find was especially valuable.
Irkutsk scientists are studying the rhinoceros bones discovered during archaeological excavations on Olkhon Island.As paleontologist Alexander Klementyev said, this summer the Tagai fossil vertebrate site, known in the scientific literature, was examined. Archaeologists discovered a bone-bearing lens with the remains of a fossil rhinoceros. This site was discovered in 1955 by geologists who were searching for phosphate and manganese. Three years later, bones of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals dating back to the Middle Miocene epoch (7–14 million years ago) were found here.
– Subsequent geological work on studying the history of Lake Baikal’s development at this site was constantly accompanied by finds of fossil remains, but unfortunately, they were few. Therefore, we consider the skeleton of the ancient rhinoceros a rather fortunate find, Alexander Klementyev noted. – Our excavations made it possible to date the sedimentary layers containing the fossil fauna to an earlier period. Now these deposits are dated to the Lower Miocene – 16–23 million years ago. Their further study will make it possible to expand the information about the composition of the fossil fauna of our region and gain a more complete understanding of the natural environment of the Lower Miocene.