Headline: Prehistoric 'Graveyard' Uncovered In Florida Sinkhole: Fossils Of Giant Armadillos, Horses, And Sloths Reveal Ancient Ice Age World
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A remarkable collection of fossils has been unearthed in Florida after a sinkhole swallowed a group of animals. 500,000 years ago, a group of armadillo-like mammals, horses, and sloths met their untimely end after plunging into the sinkhole in what is now the Big Bend region of Florida. For thousands of years, sediment concealed their remains - until two hobby fossil hunters made the discovery. In June 2022, hobby fossil hunters Robert Sinibaldi and Joseph Branin made the find while diving in Florida's Steinhatchee River. Battling murky waters, the pair unearthed horse teeth, a tapir skull, and dozens of fossils - many in pristine condition. Their discovery - 552 fossils - has now been officially documented in a groundbreaking scientific study. Palaeontologists confirmed the fossils date to the middle Irvingtonian age of the Pleistocene Ice Age - an era with scarce fossil records. Among the fossils was Holmesina, a giant armadillo-like mammal that grew from 150 to 475 pounds over time. Stunningly, 75% of the fossils belonged to prehistoric horses, revealing Florida's Ice Age grasslands were perfect for grazing.
Keywords: Florida fossils,Ice Age,Pleistocene era,Steinhatchee River,sinkhole discovery,Holmesina,extinct armadillo species,prehistoric horses,palaeontology,Florida Museum of Natural History,fossil excavation,ancient grasslands,vertebrate fossils,middle Irvingtonian North American land mammal age,horse evolution,tapir fossil,Robert Sinibaldi,Joseph Branin,Rachel Narducci,Richard Hulbert,fossil hunters,riverbed excavation,prehistoric mammals,ancient ecosystems,vertebrate palaeontology,rare fossil discovery,scientific study,prehistoric Florida
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