Prehistoric giant sloth
Elementary school children find a fossil that is at least 11,500 years old
California elementary school students accidentally found a fossil that is at least 11,500 years old. They were actually looking for crabs.
California: Museum checks for provenance and publicly displays fossil
The museum’s fossil expert is now supposed to examine the piece for its possible origin. Museum director Felicia Van Stolk wrote in a statement: “Fossils are a great way to get people interested in the past.” And further: “We are thrilled that the students have made this important discovery that will inspire generations of museum visitors and scientists.”
The bones found come from the giant sloth Megalonyx jeffersonii. The animal was a leaf eater and lived in North America during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. It weighed around 1000 kilograms and could grow up to three meters tall. The fossil could be between 11,500 and 300,000 years old and will be on display at the museum until May 26.
Sources: Mirror, Santa Cruz Museum,