Remains of mammoth and other Paleolithic animals found during excavations in Brussels – 2024-02-19 09:56:08

International

Remains of mammoth and other Paleolithic animals found during excavations in Brussels

Authorities recently reported the discovery of several mammoth bones and other Paleolithic animals during preventive archaeological excavations carried out at the Brussels metro works.

Several bones of mammoth and other Paleolithic animals are found during preventive archaeological excavations in Brussels. (Free Press Photo: Pixabay)

The Belgian Secretary of State for Heritage and Urban Planning, Ans Persoons, reported this Friday, February 16, of the discovery of several mammoth bones and other Paleolithic animals during preventive archaeological excavations carried out at the Brussels metro works.

These excavations, carried out at the initiative of the Brussels Urban Planning and Heritage Administration, Urban, They discovered archaeological remains at the location of the future ‘Toots Thielemans’ station and in its surroundings, which corresponds to the North-South metro of Brussels (line 3).

Among the remains are the femurs of two mammoths that roamed the banks of the River Senne more than 11,000 years ago, as well as a fragment of a mammoth tusk, a deer antler and the jaw of an Irish elk (a giant deer). .

The findings were presented to the press by the aforementioned Secretary of State, by the head of the Urban Archeology Department, Ann Degraeve, and the archaeozoologist of the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences, Bea De Cupere.

According to the Belgian agency, discoveries of prehistoric animals in the Brussels region are “rare” and only occur during large-scale works.

Mammoth bones discovered on the metro 3 construction site in Brussels https://t.co/kJJEPe5Q6E

— RTBF Brussels (@RTBFBxl) February 16, 2024

Read more: “El Chapo” Guzmán does not appear on the birth certificate of their twins

For example, the recent construction of the administrative center of the city of Brussels revealed a loading dock dating back to the 14th century, where artifacts and food remains were also found, revealing the way of life of the inhabitants of the Belgian capital. at that time.