Chinese farmer digs up ivory fossils dating back over 10,000 years
He was preparing to lay the foundation for his home when he made the discovery
A farmer has unearthed fossilised ivory believed to be from an elephant living more than 10,000 years ago in northwest China, a mainland newspaper reports.
Yin Faping made the discovery on November 13 when he was preparing to lay the foundation for his house in the county of Hanyin, Shaanxi province, Chinese Business View reported on Tuesday.
Pieced together, the 13 fossils are about one metre long and weigh 4.8kg.
The Shaanxi geological survey centre dated the fossils to the Neolithic period, according to the report.
It is the second significant elephant discovery made in the region after a fossilised milk tooth was found there more than 30 years ago.
Researchers told the newspaper that the fossilised ivory could help them understand more about the history of the Han River Basin in the province.
The county’s cultural relics body is temporarily looking after the fossils and has proposed they be transferred to the Northwest University museum in Xian, the provincial capital.
