A group of researchers has discovered fossils of animals that lived 9 million years ago at an excavation site in southwestern Türkiye, state-run broadcaster TRT reported on Wednesday.

The findings were the fossils of a species from the Felidae family, a porcupine, and several birds, it said.

The discoveries were achieved this year as part of an ongoing excavation by a group of researchers in the Tavas district of Denizli province since 2017.

Ahmet Ihsan Aytek, an anthropologist from Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, who leads the research, said the porcupine is a scarce species in Anatolia, and discovering its fossil is a great success.

"We found that the skull and jaw bones were preserved in a near-integrity," Aytek said.

Speaking about the discovery of the bird fossils, he stated that their bones were very delicate and very difficult to fossilize due to their physical structure.

Aytek believes these discoveries will also provide clues about animal migration movements.

Researchers had previously found fossils of 15 animals, including elephant, rhinoceros, anteater, giraffe, horse, antelope, and gazelle at the excavation site.

STORY: 9-mln-year-old animal fossils discovered in SW Türkiye
DATELINE: Sept. 14, 2023
LENGTH: 0:00:42
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. photos of people carrying out archaeological excavations in Denizli, Türkiye (ihlas news agency)
2. photos of fossils (ihlas news agency)

STORYLINE:

A group of researchers has discovered fossils of animals that lived 9 million years ago at an excavation site in southwestern Türkiye, state-run broadcaster TRT reported on Wednesday.
   
The findings were the fossils of a species from the Felidae family, a porcupine, and several birds, it said.
   
The discoveries were achieved this year as part of an ongoing excavation by a group of researchers in the Tavas district of Denizli province since 2017.
   
Ahmet Ihsan Aytek, an anthropologist from Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, who leads the research, said the porcupine is a scarce species in Anatolia, and discovering its fossil is a great success.
   
"We found that the skull and jaw bones were preserved in a near-integrity," Aytek said.
   
Speaking about the discovery of the bird fossils, he stated that their bones were very delicate and very difficult to fossilize due to their physical structure.
   
Aytek believes these discoveries will also provide clues about animal migration movements.
   
Researchers had previously found fossils of 15 animals, including elephant, rhinoceros, anteater, giraffe, horse, antelope, and gazelle at the excavation site.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)