Spectacular Find in Kayseri: 3 Giant Elephant Skulls From 7.7 Million Years Ago Revealed

A new fossil season at Yamula Dam in central Türkiye has delivered a remarkable discovery: three massive elephant skulls dating back nearly eight million years. The excavation site, known for its extraordinary preservation of prehistoric wildlife, is helping scientists reconstruct Anatolia’s ancient ecosystems during the Late Miocene period.

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From Shepherd’s Discovery to Global Significance

The Yamula Dam fossil site, situated on the banks of the Kızılırmak River in Kayseri’s Kocasinan district, has become a hotspot for paleontological research since a shepherd stumbled upon bone fragments in 2017. Formal excavations began the following year and have steadily unveiled a treasure trove of megafauna remains, offering insight into Türkiye’s deep-time natural history.

This year’s campaign has surpassed expectations. Within a single excavation season, the team uncovered three elephant skulls, one of which included a lower jaw. The fossils were found in Çevril, a sector of the site now informally called the “elephant zone” because of the concentration of proboscidean remains.

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Late Miocene Giants Unearthed

Dating analyses conducted through radiometric techniques have established that these fossils are approximately 7.7 million years old. The skulls, though showing some damage to their tusks, are remarkably intact—a rarity in paleontology.

Ömer Dağ, a member of the excavation team, emphasized the importance of the find:

“In just one season, we uncovered more elephant fossils than in the previous six years combined. The preservation of these massive remains makes Yamula one of the most valuable fossil deposits in the region.”

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A Prehistoric Ecosystem in Detail

The Yamula Dam site is not solely defined by its elephant fossils. Excavations have revealed a vibrant Late Miocene fauna, including rhinos, three-toed horses, giraffes, bovids (antelopes, goats, sheep), tortoises, pigs, and a saber-toothed cat.

Researchers believe this diversity reflects a mosaic of habitats that once existed in Anatolia.

“The variety of species points to complex ecosystems,” Dağ noted. “Some elephants adapted to marshy areas, using their jaws to forage in wetland environments, while others relied on wooded landscapes for food. These findings allow us to reconstruct how animals interacted with their environment millions of years ago.”

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Positioning Türkiye on the Paleontology Map

Supervised by the Kayseri Museum Directorate under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with sponsorship from the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality and scientific leadership by Prof. Dr. Okşan Başoğlu and Prof. Dr. Pınar Gözlük Kırmızıoğlu, the Yamula excavations are placing Türkiye firmly on the paleontological map. The site is now regarded as one of the best places in Eurasia for studying Late Miocene megafauna.

Cover İmage Credit: Esma Küçükşahin/AA