SKOPJE, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Fossil remains from an extinct elephant from about eight million years ago has been discovered near the eastern Macedonian region of Negotino, local media reported on Tuesday.
According to the preliminary results, the remains are those of a 50-year-old animal weighing about 10 tons.
"The finds date back to eight million years ago, according to the geological chart," said Biljana Garevska of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Skopje.
While visiting the site, Macedonian Culture Minister Robert Allagjozovski said this was a paleontological breakthrough discovered in cooperation with paleontologists from the Macedonian Natural Museum and their associates from Bulgaria.
"Macedonia has its share of some rare exceptional discoveries and this is one of the most spectacular discoveries that puts Macedonia on the paleontological map of Europe and the world," said Allagjosovski.
The Macedonian ministry of culture will further support the research team's work, he said.
