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9-million-year-old fossils discovered in southwestern Türkiye

Researchers in Türkiye's Denizli province unearth 9-million-year-old animal fossils during research conducted in the region since 2017, providing insights into ancient fauna and migration patterns.

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The team determine the age range of the fossils through chemical and geological analysis. / Photo: AA

Researchers in southwestern Türkiye have discovered animal fossils dating back 9 million years ago.

The discovery came during research by a group of paleoanthropologists, palaeontologists, and geologists in Tavas in the province of Denizli.

Ahmet Ihsan Aytek, an anthropology professor at Denizli's Pamukkale University, said they had unearthed fossils of many animals in their research since 2017.

"This year, we found fossils of a species from the Felidae family" – or cats, both the household kind and the wide variety – "a porcupine, and a bird," he said, adding that birds' bones are very delicate and fossilisation is very difficult due to their physical structure.

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Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Ihsan Aytek leads a team consisting of paleoanthropologists, palaeontologists, geologists, and students from Pamukkale and Hitit universities, who are conducting excavation work under the coordination of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, led by the Denizli Museum Directorate.

There has only been “one set of bird bones in Anatolia, dating back approximately 7-9 million years,” Aytek said, adding that this discovery comes second.

He said they determine the age range of the fossils through chemical and geological analysis.

Saying the excavations will also provide clues on the migration movements of animals, he added that they have prepared a joint project with Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen, Germany.