Ruins of a primitive elephant cemetery were uncovered during work on a new fire-fighting logistics center built by the Madrid City Council in the La Atalayuela industrial zone, in the Villa de Vallecas area. In particular, large fossil remains were found, corresponding to eight partially completed individuals of the species Gomphotherium angustidens. The jaws, teeth, femurs, humerus and hips were all recovered.
Giant tortoises are recognized as distant ancestors of modern African elephants. They coexisted with large carnivores and ancestors of today’s horses, deer and wild boars in the region, according to the Madrid City Council.
A herd of elephants sought shelter in this region due to food and water resources during a period of drought and cooler temperatures about 14 million years ago. Some members of the herd eventually died from lack of sustenance. A subsequent flood later covered the carcasses, enabling preservation and fossilization.
This extinct species of elephant measured about five meters in length and roughly three meters tall, with an estimated weight around 2.5 tons. It possessed four teeth: the upper pair were distinct and curved downward, while the two lower teeth were slightly shorter. The trunk is believed to have been shorter than that of present-day elephants.
Prehistoric elephants in Madrid
Gomphotherium angustidens inhabited central and southern Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, and northeastern Africa, ranging from Tunisia to Kenya, during the early to middle Miocene, roughly 16 to 5 million years ago. In the Iberian Peninsula, remains of this species have been found in locales such as Somosaguas and Carpetana in Madrid, as well as the town of Villafeliche near Zaragoza.
It should be noted that, during the period when these animals lived, hominids had not yet appeared in Europe. This is a fact not known to have occurred in Atapuerca until about 1.4 million years ago.
The fossils were deposited in the Regional Archaeological Museum of the Madrid Region in Alcalá de Henares, where they will be preserved. Some specimens were loaned to the National Museum of Natural Sciences and are studied there in detail.
The excavation, conducted from March to August, involved a team of eight paleontologists and archaeologists led by Alessandro Giusto and Jorge Morín. The survey covered an area of approximately 800 square meters and marks an important milestone not only for the information uncovered but also for the heritage recovered.
The fossils were placed at the Regional Archaeological Museum, the Community of Madrid’s archive in Alcalá de Henares. Some specimens were loaned to the National Museum of Natural Sciences for detailed study there.
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