An extraordinary prehistoric discovery has been made in River Tisza, in Hungary, where water management workers found what is believed to be the skull of a cave bear that lived during the Ice Age.
Workers first thought they found an old anchor
Staff from the Middle Tisza District Water Directorate (Kötivizig) spotted the object while kayaking between Szolnok and Kisköre. Initially, they thought the object protruding from the riverbed might be an old anchor.
A closer inspection, however, revealed the remains of a large animal. Around three-quarters of the find was buried in the gravel bed, from which the workers were able to recover it thanks to the Tisza’s low water level.
The remains were taken to the Damjanich János Museum in Szolnok, where experts conducted an initial examination. Their preliminary assessment is that the find is probably the skull of an Ice Age cave bear.
Never miss a headline: join Daily News Hungary’s official WhatsApp channel!
What to know about cave bears?
Cave bears (Ursus spelaeus) lived across much of Europe during the Pleistocene and became extinct thousands of years ago. Their remains are often associated with caves, where the animals sought shelter and hibernated.
The exact age of the newly discovered skull has yet to be established. Museum specialists will carry out further examinations to determine when the animal lived. The discovery demonstrates how falling water levels can expose objects and remains that have been hidden beneath river sediments for centuries or even millennia.
Read also: Domestic mosquitoes spread African virus linked to serious illness as first Hungarian case diagnosed
