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A 50,000 old graveyard of extinct cave bears found in a grotto where humans never trod

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15 November 2021

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Skulls and bones of 18 bears -  with more female than male - were found in the Perm region's cave; some died during hibernation. Picture: Dmitry Gimranov

Palaeontologists discovered more than 300 ribs, vertebrae, and intact tubular bones of the long-gone species. 

Previous finds of bear remains in caves in the sprawling region had been disturbed by ancient man. 

'The integrity of the bones in all of these caves was compromised by human activity prior to scientific study,' said senior researcher Dr Dmitry Gimranov, from the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology of the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

'In Prokoshev Cave, we have the opportunity to study the undisturbed structure of a 'natural cemetery’, getting unique information about the ecology and biology of that era.

'Finding 15 skulls in two expeditions is a great success', Dr Gimranov said.

A graveyard of extinct cave bears dating from more than 50,000 years ago has been found in a grotto where humans never trod


A graveyard of extinct cave bears dating from more than 50,000 years ago has been found in a grotto where humans never trod


A graveyard of extinct cave bears dating from more than 50,000 years ago has been found in a grotto where humans never trod


A graveyard of extinct cave bears dating from more than 50,000 years ago has been found in a grotto where humans never trod
A graveyard of extinct cave bears from more than 50,000 years ago found in a grotto where humans never trod. Pictures: Dmitry Gimranov


In all they have so far found parts of 18 bears, with more female than male, in the Perm region cave. Some died during hibernation, say reports. 

Analysis of their teeth will allow experts to determine the cave bears' diet. 

The cave has a 350ft main passageway, which ends with a 25ft cliff opening into an underground grotto, where the bear necropolis was found. 

Such natural cemeteries of large carnivorous mammals of the late Pleistocene period are rare, say the scientists.

In a video Dr Gimranov is seen holding a cave bear with a massive jaw; the bear, he said, lived around 40,000 years ago. 

Comments (2)

Is it possible the bears fell to their deaths over that 25' cliff? It must have been really dark 350' inside the cave.
earthling1, Vancouver, Washington State, USA8
28/11/2021 09:34
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My congratulation to my Russian collegues
Prof Mario Pino, Chile
20/11/2021 22:02
3
0
1

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