Guess what archaeologists just discovered? 🤯 A nearly complete giant panda fossil dating back over 10,000 years was unearthed in a limestone cave in Shaanxi Province, northwest China! 🐼🎉
The fossil was found deep inside a cave in Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, sitting on a limestone platform 180 meters underground. Talk about a hidden treasure! 🕵️♂️💎
What's super cool is that over 90% of the skull and 70% of the entire skeleton are still intact. That's like finding a time capsule from the Pleistocene epoch! ⏳ Scientists believe it's an adult female giant panda, thanks to detailed analysis of the skull, teeth, and sagittal crest.
By checking out the fossil's condition and how it's mineralized, experts think it's between 200,000 and 10,000 years old. This amazing find is set to give us major insights into how giant pandas evolved and survived in the Qinling and Daba Mountains. 🌿🏔️
This discovery not only excites the science community but also brings us closer to understanding these adorable creatures' ancient past. Can't wait to see what else lies buried beneath! 🌟
Reference(s):
Giant panda fossil with nearly complete skeleton unearthed in NW China
cgtn.com
