Finding fossil animal bones in Lao Cai

At Ma Tuyen cave in Muong Khuong district (Lao Cai), a group of scientists from the Vietnam Institute of Archeology and Lao Cai Provincial Museum have found fossil bones of many rare and precious animals dating back to from 30,000 to 50,000 years.

Fossil mammoth fossils in Ma Tuyen cave.(Photo of Lao Cai general museum)

Fossil bones of rare and precious animal populations such as bamboo bears, rhinos, red-toothed elephants, short-tailed porcupines, deer, red mold, brown tufts, wild boars, wild boars, forest rats, and golden monkeys

Thus, Lao Cai is the 10th province and city of Vietnam to discover fossil bones of animal populations dating to tens of thousands of years.

Previously, in June 2008, the People's Committee of Muong Khuong district (Lao Cai) decided to renovate Ma Tuyen cave for tourism. During the construction process, local construction officials and workers have discovered many relics of fossilized bones of large animal bones.

By the end of April 2009, through preliminary excavation at Ma Tuyen cave, scientists from Vietnam Institute of Archeology and Lao Cai Provincial Museum had surveyed a hole larger than 7m ² and discovered here. Many fossil bone remains of the above mentioned rare animals.

Associate Professor Nguyen Lan Cuong, Vietnam Archaeological Association, said that among the fossils discovered, there are two most valuable species, the bamboo bear teeth and the sword tooth, which are quite intact. Hopefully, the next excavation in Ma Tuyen cave will find many other valuable animal fossils.