Gansu discovered ancient fossils about 2.6 million years ago

Recently, an oilfield drilling team discovered paleontological fossils when expanding a well road in a village in Chenghuang Township, Huachi County, Gansu Province. After receiving the report, the local cultural relics department immediately rushed to the scene to conduct investigations. It was initially determined that the discovered fossils were ancient fossils. The geological age was in the Quaternary Period (about 2.6 million years ago). The specific situation needs further investigation and study.

The reporter learned from the Cultural Relics Bureau of Gansu Province on the 8th that the exposed fossil section is about 94 cm long and about 60 cm wide, and some fossils are still buried in the soil layer that is nearly 23 meters deep. Among the found fossils, there are large animals, upper and lower jaws, molars and two cervical vertebrae. One tooth is 27 centimeters long, 7 centimeters wide and weighs 8 kilograms. The other is 28.5 centimeters long, 7.3 centimeters wide and weighs 9 kilograms.

In addition, rhinoceros's lower teeth and rodent fossils have also been found at the fossil site. In the gravel layer on both sides of the river bed near the fossil point, many coral fossils, rodent fossils, and plant fossils were also found.

According to reports, the fossil point is located at a distance of 50 km from Muqi Nature Village, Banqiao Township, Heshui County, where ancient fossils of the Yellow River are heard. This is another major new discovery of ancient fossil animals after the Heshui Ancient Elephants. It is of great value to study the geographical evolution and the living environment of ancient animals and plants in the Longdong region during the Quaternary period.