Mammoth fossils discovered in the Danube River due to drought

Extreme drought in the Danube River has exposed well-preserved mammoth remains near Ryahovo, Bulgaria. A local resident discovered the fossils on the parched riverbed, prompting experts from the Regional Historical Museum in Ruse to investigate.

Specialists identified a lower jaw, two tusks, a shoulder blade, and a femur, likely belonging to a woolly mammoth. The bones exhibit dark coloration due to mineralization from being buried for millennia in mineral-rich soil and humic acids. Researchers suggest the area may have functioned as a prehistoric graveyard where large mammals became trapped in ancient marshes or floodplains.

Nikolay Nenov, director of the museum, noted that while the find is scientifically significant, it aligns with long-held theories regarding the region's prehistoric landscape. Detailed research is planned to determine the exact age of the remains and the specific circumstances of the animal's death.