Ancient lion remains found in Bashkortostan will be examined in St. Petersburg

UFA, 20 January 2016. /Bashinform News Agency, Evgeniya Syutkina/. The Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences continues to study the remains of ancient animals found last year in "Bashkiria" National Park. So far we know one thing - they lived there about 30,000 years ago.

Recall that in August 2015 in the Imanai Cave scientists from Bashkortostan and Yekaterinburg managed to collect more than 500 pieces of ancient animal bones. Then they were taken to the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, its staff now continue their study according to morphological criteria.

"The study of the remains will help to identify the causes of of predators extinction in "Bashkiria" National Park. No one knows whether they were killed by people or their death was influenced by external factors. Also, we will try to restore their appearance", said the Head of the Paleoecology Laboratory of the Institute, Pavel Kosintsev.

More exact age of the finds will be determined at the Russian State Pedagogical University named after A.I. Herzen (St. Petersburg), where a fragment of skull of the cave lion was sent last autumn. There one of the three existing units of radiocarbon dating in Russia is located. Meanwhile, scientists from Yekaterinburg have already planned further research of the Imanai Cave in "Bashkiria" National Park. According to Pavel Kosintsev, the last year's findings - is only the beginning of uncovering the mysteries of antiquity.