Remains of a Pliocene Mammut borsoni (Hays, 1834) (Proboscidea, Mammalia), from Milia (Grevena, W. Macedonia, Greece)

Abstract

A partial skeleton of the mastodont Mammut borsoni (Hays, 1834) (Proboscidea), was excavated from Pliocene deposits at Milia — Grevena, W. Macedonia, in 1996–1999. The skeleton includes substantial portions of the skull — maxillary area — with left and right molar series (M 2 + M 3); with the longest upper tusks ever found in Greece (4.39 m); the most complete mandible with left and right molar series (M 2 + M 3) and two lower incisor tusks, as well as post-cranial skeleton. It represents a very large adult of about 40 years in age. The high age of the finding is partly corroborated by ESR dating studies of tooth enamel, indicating an age probably beyond the upper dating range of this technique (approx. 800 000 years). The evolutionary position of this specimen among mammutids is also discussed.