10,000-Year-Old Bison Bone Found at Bottom of Armenia’s Lake Sevan

YEREVAN. – The bone of a millennia-old bison (European forest buffalo) was discovered in Armenia’s Lake Sevan, about six to seven meters below the water surface.

The bone discovered by “AYAS” Nautical Research Club at the intersection of Large and Small Sevans could be part of a backbone of a prehistoric animal.

“During research [at the Sevan Basin] we have discovered many archaeological findings in the form of remnants of household items,” stated Rafayel Mkrtchyan, head of Nautical Research Club. “But this bone is unique.”

Nina Manaseryan, PhD in Biology, told reporters on Sept 2, bones of ancient bison have already been found in Sevan earlier, which means that there were forests around the lake, as bison inhabited in forests only. This time, the backbone of the Caucasian bison has been found.

To confirm the preliminary estimations concerning the age of the found bones, a DNA test will be done.