Ecobreves – CUBA: Prehistoric Fossils Discovered

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HAVANA, Oct 24 2010 (IPS) - Cuban scientists have confirmed the discovery of fossil remains from the prehistoric era in Sima del Cotunto, located on the western border of Viñales National Park, 162 kilometers from the national capital. Efrén Jaimez, president of the Pedro Borrás Group of the Cuban Speleology Society, told Tierramérica they found an intact skull of a medium-sized sloth embedded in the wall of one of the underground wells at the site, as well as plant fossils from the Quaternary period.

Jaimez said similar fossils had been found previously at other sites in the region. They hope to find other unknown species fossils, which the scientists suspect extend throughout the territory's mountain system.