Millions of years old fossils shed light on prehistoric life
DENİZLİ
At the Tavas Kayaca fossil site in the southwestern province of Denizli, excavations are bringing an extraordinarily preserved Late Miocene ecosystem to light, offering scientists a vivid glimpse into prehistoric life from 7 to 9 million years ago.
The site, regarded as one of the world’s most promising vertebrate fossil localities, is the only active fossil excavation in Türkiye discovered entirely by a Turkish research team. Among the country’s eight ongoing fossil excavations, it has drawn particular attention for its unusually high concentration of carnivore fossils and exceptionally preserved bird remains.
The excavation is conducted under the supervision of the Denizli Museum Directorate of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, with Associate Professor Ahmet İhsan Aytek of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University’s Department of Anthropology serving as scientific advisor.Aytek said researchers have uncovered more than 700 fossils from a rich assemblage of species, including ancestral elephants, three-toed horses, rhinoceroses, giraffes, gazelles, hyenas and saber-toothed cats.
