Stegodon Fossil Fragments Discovered in Pati, Central Java

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of Pati’s Cultural Heritage and Historical Traditions revealed that a fossil of an alleged ancient elephant was discovered at the Kaliampo forest area in Pati District, Central Java. The remains have been temporarily stored at the Patiayam Kudus Museum.

“There are dozens of fragments of the ancient elephant Stegodon that included its tail section and chest,” said head of Pati’s Cultural Heritage and Historical Traditions, Trevita Puspita Hadi on October 1.

The fossil, first thought to be a collection of stones, was discovered by a local resident that was in the nearby area of the discovery which was followed-up by reporting his finding to Sangiran Ancient Human Site Conservation Agency (BPSMP).

The recovery of the fossils took four days to complete, which also marks the first time such finding was found in the area of Pati.

Furthermore, the Pati District administration plans on establishing a museum to keep and preserve the fossils that were recovered by the BPSMP Sangiran at the Wangunrejo Village in Pati. They stated that the fossils are currently being recovered, which will then lead to an in-depth research in the future.

During the past year, the Patiayam Kudus Site uncovered more than a hundred fossil fragments that were then preserved at the Patiayam Archeological Site. From 2004 to 2018 there were 6,200 listed fossil fragments.

ANTARA