Scientists from the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan recently discovered unusual paleontological finds during an expedition to the regions of the country, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.
Researchers of the Institute Kakajan Bayramov and Pashaguly Garayev went on a historical and ethnographic expedition to the mountain villages of the Baherden etrap of the Akhal velayat and collected interesting scientific ethnographic material.
In the village of Ymarat, Baherden etrap, local paleontologist enthusiast Yazmyrat Gutlymyradov showed scientists a large collection of paleontological finds.
He and his older brother Khanmyrat became the guides of scientists to places rich in paleontological material on Mount Gozlydag. Here, fossilized ovipositors of dinosaurs and flying lizards, grown into the stone surface of the gorge, are of great interest. Among the stone finds on Mount Gozlydag, ammonites are most often found - a group of the most numerous and diverse predators of cephalopods. Their shells were of various shapes, and the animal itself was very reminiscent of a nautilus (the only family of cephalopods that has survived to this day).
Residents of the village of Ymarat said that on Mount Gozlydag these ammonite shells come across in large numbers. There are also very large specimens, in most cases the shells are ribbed. Mount Gozlydag is an open museum of paleontology, scientists concluded.
In the collection of Yazmyrat Gutlymyradov, one can also see fossilized turtles, snails, mysterious conical and worm-shaped unknown extinct organisms. And the teacher is proud of another exhibit of his collection - these are stone beads of a primitive man.
As a result, the 9-day expedition returned to Ashgabat not only with valuable historical and ethnographic materials, but also with samples of paleontological science. The Scientific Museum of the Institute has replenished with ancient exhibits.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 22, 2023