The Hindu : National : Million-year-old camel bone found in Syria

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Million-year-old camel bone found in Syria

DAMASCUS: Archaeologists have unearthed a camel jawbone in Syria that might belong to an undiscovered tiny species of the desert-cruising animal and, at a million years old, be the oldest camel remains ever found.

The jawbone was uncovered near the village of Khowm in the Palmyra region, about 250 km from here, said Heba al-Sakhel, a leader of the team of Syrian and Swiss archaeologists.

Last year, the same mission discovered the bones of a giant camel in Syria dating back 100,000 years. That animal, dubbed the “Syrian Camel” by its discoverers, stood between 3 metres and 4 m tall — about twice the size of latter-day camels and the height at the shoulder of many African elephants.

The new find, along with the remains of the giant camel, could offer important clues about the animal’s evolution, the researchers said. “It is a very important discovery,” said Jean-Marie Le Tensorer, who leads the Swiss side of the team.

He said it is the oldest camel bone to be unearthed in West Asia, probably anywhere. The camel appears to be small and could be a new species, but more studies are needed to confirm that. — AP

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