Paleontological Museum in Tocuila

The Museo de Paleontologia de Tocuila near the central Mexican city of Texcoco represents fossils from one of the richest Faunenfundorte of Jungpleistozäns in America. This is a former tributary of Lake Texcoco. The international there by a group of archaeologists discovered numerous bones, predominantly of mammoths, are estimated to be 10000-12000 years.

Location

The Museo de Paleontologia de Tocuila is located in the street 16 de Septiembre in the village of San Miguel Tocuila in the State of México.

History

The site was discovered in July 1996 during excavation work. While Joaquín Ramírez oversaw the construction of a cistern, he noticed fossilized bones. His brother Celso, the owner of the property, taught the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia ( INAH, National Institute of Anthropology and History ) from the Fund. The Institute made ​​a number of on-site studies that should investigate the unusually high concentration of bones of various animals.

The Museo de Paleontologia de Tocuila was opened in November 2001 with the support of the landowner, the village, the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo and the INAH for the audience.

Description of the discovery site

In the 28 square meters, which have been studied up to now, were discovered in three meters depth remains of at least seven mammoths (Mammuthus columbi ) of different ages, from young to adult, along with bones of several animals, like rabbits, aquatic habitats, and hoofed animals ( camel, horse, bison). Most studies of the residues indicate an age 10000-12000 years.

Hypotheses

There are several hypotheses that attempt to explain why so many bones have accumulated in a single place.

The first statements discussed the possibility that the flooding of the river that flowed back in the Lake Texcoco, the mammoths and other animals surprised entrained drowned and could have buried together.

But later studies indicated more attention to a lahar ( volcanic mudflow ). Claus sieves, Peter Schaaf and Jaime Urrutia - Fucugauchi suspected that the mud flow from the volcano Popocatépetl was triggered while the results of the research of S. Gonzalez, D. Huddart, L. Morett - Alatorre, J. Arroyo - Cabrales and OJ Polaco indicate the Nevado de Toluca.

Another possible explanation for bone accumulation provides the study of J. Arroyo - Cabrales, E. Johnson and L. Morett. After the analysis of the bone fragments they put forward the hypothesis that there are human bones cracking activity was at the place, perhaps, as it was common in North America to produce tools or arrowheads.

Swell

19.520277 - 98.907788Koordinaten: 19 ° 31 ' 13 " N, 98 ° 54' 28 " W

  • Museum in Mexico
  • Paleontological Museum
  • Texcoco de Mora
Fauna Columbian mammoth
588163
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