Explore the underwater graveyard in Madagascar

A group of international experts returned from the first expedition in three flooded caves in Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, carrying large fossils to find a solution to the mystery in Madagascar.

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Explore the largest graveyard in the country in Madagascar

The fossil remains intact after thousands of years in a flooded cave.(Photo: Pietro Donaggio)

The disappearance of creatures that once ruled Madagascar as the gorilla-sized lemur, or half-ton elephants with eggs 180 times the size of duck eggs is one of the biggest questions for world paleontologists.

The head of the research team, the paleontologist of Brooklyn Institute, Alfred Rosenberger, said that all objects found in the cave were almost intact. The biggest harvest this time is the skeleton of some extinct giant lemurs from hundreds to thousands of years ago like Megaladapis or Archaeoindris. In addition, the skeleton of the individual is not disturbed, it is easy to assemble them.

In Mitoho cave, they found fossils of two fossas - a special carnivore in Madagascar, lying on top of each other in a pile of bones of smaller animals . The assumption is that two fossas are resting in the nest, natural disasters may be flooding and taking their lives at the same time.

According to initial research, the animals discovered in these caves are only recently extinct because there is evidence that they once coexisted with humans, when they migrated here, about 500 years ago. B.C. Scientists have identified the impact of humanity as a major role in the extinction of particular animals here, however, the exact cause is still not possible. Laurie Godfrey, a paleontologist at the University of Massachusetts, said the study of fossils and salvaged specimens will help scientists find the answer.

With huge amounts of fossils still unexplored, three Malaza Manga, Aven and Mitoho caves are believed to be Madagascar's largest underwater cemetery. According to scientists, the deep-water environment, sometimes as high as 39 m, is like Aven Cave, turning these caves into perfect fossils. Ryan Dart, a diver, happened to find this treasure while looking for a new dive site.