7,000-Year-Old Sunken City

They may not have found Atlantis yet, but another sunken city has been found. Like Atlantis, this city also inspired a myth. An island that was partly submerged off the coast of the Ile de Sein of France gave the Brittany region its own local lore for thousands of years.

It was here that marine archaeologists spotted the remains of a 7,000-year-old wall about 30 feet below the surface. It belonged to a stone age civilization and is thought to have been one of two things; either a fence to collect fish or a dike built to protect against rising waves.

LIDAR data found eleven structures at the bottom of the ocean. Sea level data reflecting changes in the sea level and vertical land movement indicate they dated back to between 5,800 and 5,300 BCE. This was a time of transition from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle to permanent settlements. At that time, the shoreline was several miles out to sea.

This find predates the first Neolithic megaliths in Brittany by at least 500 years. But little archaeological work has been done in the deep areas of the Brittany coast because of difficulties in accessing such sites.

Shell middens near the short and megaliths further out give evidence of coastal human populations in the region, but the ocean has not given up many artifacts. Fragments of this wall weigh 3,300 metric tons, which might support the idea that it was built to prevent flooding when the sea level rose.

Whatever the purpose of this wall, it was designed to withstand storms and erosion. Standing stones within the structure are similar to others found in inland Brittany and parts of Stonehenge, the largest being nearly 10 feet high. This structure’s arrangement of monoliths, slabs, blocks, and boulders suggests a complex architecture, which has not been found in nearby fish fences. The community that built the megalith must have had technical skill and social organization.

There may also be a link to the City of Ys, which involves a Breton legend passed down through centuries by oral tradition. Ys is thought to have been submerged in the Bay of Douarnenez, which is just east of Ile de Sein. So this legendary city might have actually existed in prehistory.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/archaeologists-found-evidence-of-a-7-000-year-old-sunken-city/ar-AA1SBj2I?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69446e95433043ca8ed260af6652d221&ei=28

Gigantic Prehistoric Creature Discovered

Quarries offer a glimpse into Earth’s deep past by revealing fossils of creatures that once roamed the Earth. A discovery in a Russian quarry had revealed a colossal carnivore that lived millions of years ago.

A rich fossil site is the Kosyakino quarry near Stavropol, Russia. The quarry was discovered in 1938 and gained recognition for its concentration of ancient vertebrates. Fossils found there include birds, reptiles and amphibians from roughly 5.5 to 6 million years ago. In 1961, the quarry was closed to industrial use to safeguard its paleontological treasures.

A jawbone was among the early findings there. It was initially believed to be from a large hyena-like bear. It remained in storage, labeled with that assumption, for decades. But eventually, the specimen was revisited, which sparked a reevaluation.

Closer inspection revealed that the fossil represented a new type of massive bear, later named Huraca borissiaki. Though incomplete, it displayed a deep, sturdy structure, widely spaced teeth, and massive carnassial teeth. These pointed to an apex predator unlike any other bear at the time.

Huracan borissiaki rivaled the size of the largest bear ever recorded. This means it ranked among the greatest carnivorous bears to have ever lived.

The history of the Huracan genus stretches back approximately 6 million years ago. The earliest fossils were uncovered in China, but they spread widely, reaching North America, East Asia, and Europe (although they disappeared from Europe soon after their arrival).

Stavropol is north of the Caucasus Mountains, a region that bridges Europe and Asia. This location reinforces the idea of a prehistoric migration route of ancient megafauna.

The Miocene lasted from about 23 to 5 million years ago. During it, forests receded, grasslands expanded, and animals adapted to new ways of life.

This reconstructed jaw implies an animal of immense strength. Its teeth could shear through muscle and crack bone, which would indicate a diet of large prey. It was a specialist in survival.

A debate has arisen about where Huracan borissiaki fits in the bear lineage. Its features suggest it was a branch that evolved and vanished before modern bears appeared.

In addition, the quarry’s sediments tell a story. Layers of ash, pollen, and minerals indicate fluctuating climates and ancient rivers, so that Huracan borissiaki lived in a landscape that was constantly changing.

Why this titan disappeared remains unclear. It’s possible that changing climate, new predators, or dwindling prey led to its extinction.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/gigantic-prehistoric-creature-discovered-in-russian-quarry-is-a-new-species/ss-AA1OZdep?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=690d5eedff2e4e36a861e6a01db38aae&ei=75#image=19