In Gomel, a diver accidentally found mammoth and bison bones in the Sozh river
During a training dive in the Sozh river near Gomel's Shvedskaya Gorka tract, Stepan Zhukavets, a diver from the Water Rescue Society, found several bones of ancient animals. The finds were made approximately 50 meters from the bank at a depth of 10-12 meters, writes Times.by.
Photo: Times.by
According to preliminary assessment by specialists, among the found bones are a vertebra, a rib, and a fragment of a mammoth's jaw, as well as a bone from a bison's forelimb. The largest find — the rib — weighs about three kilograms.
The diver noted that this is not the first similar find in this location. Several years ago, a bison skull was found here, and last year, a part of a mammoth's spine.
Photo: Times.by
Archaeologists explain that such remains are not a rarity for this area. During the ice age, mammoths, bison, rhinos, reindeer, forest elephants, and even cave lions lived in the territory of modern Polesia. The river's current could have dispersed their bones over significant distances, so there is no reason to link the new finds with already known remains.
Photo: Water Rescue Society
After examination, the bones will be cleaned, conserved, and transferred to museum collections. They are planned to be presented at the "Museum Exhibit" exhibition early next year.