Ancient Proboscideans and Their Upright-Walking Ape Contemporaries in Hammerschmiede
A new study from the University of Tübingen has revealed that Proboscideans, such as mammoths, were the contemporaries of upright apes. The team of researchers studied the fossilized remains found at the Hammerschmiede archeological site in Germany, and their findings suggest that these two species of mammals lived alongside each other. While the remains of the Proboscidean species were dated to around 11,000 years ago, the upright ape species were found to be around 17,000 to 21,000 years old. The findings suggest that Proboscideans were part of the same environment as the upright apes, and could have been a source of food. The researchers also noted that the Proboscideans were likely hunted by the upright apes, leading to the conclusion that the two species were in direct competition with each other. This discovery is particularly interesting, as it provides insight into the co-existence of two species that had different evolutionary paths.
source: Phys.org