Ancient discovery made in Weimar. - Five-year-old Charlotte discovers a 10,000-year-old horse bone.
Bones are consistently discovered in the gravel of the former riverbeds surrounding Erfurt. Nevertheless, complete skeletons are rarely uncovered due to the water current washing them away or the bones being separated and even crushed between moving stones.
Konrad Kürbis, a mammalogist at the Natural History Museum, shares, "Comprehensive and undamaged skeleton discoveries are uncommon. However, individual bones, which can be challenging to recognize, are discovered frequently."
On May 1, 2023, the five-year-old Charlotte from Erfurt managed to achieve this feat near the Ilm riverbank while visiting Tiefurt Palace Park in Weimar. Charlotte excitedly shared, "While I was playing near the water, I saw something that resembled a bone and showed it to my father."
The Bone Makes Its Way to the Natural History Museum
Kürbis expresses delight that the family approached the Natural History Museum with their discovery. "The Quaternary Palaeontology Department at the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung in Weimar eventually determined the nature of the find, and we are thrilled to display this unique artifact in the museum's entrance area."
Charlotte's name and the bone she found will be listed in the museum's inventory. As a token of appreciation, she was also granted a complimentary annual pass.
The Effects of Ice Ages on the Surroundings of Erfurt
10,000 years ago, the vicinity of Erfurt was marked by vast steppes and meandering waterways adorned with substantial dynamic floodplains, as stated by Kürbis. These features are a result of the previous ice ages, evident in the climate, the terrain, and the plants and animals that thrived there.
Geologists and paleontologists can read these signs and interpret their findings. Occasionally, it is accidental discoveries that provide a glimpse into the Earth's past rather than meticulously planned excavations.
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Source: symclub.org
