A team of researchers has revealed the existence of the first fossil of a large animal found in a secure archaeological context on the Greek mainland. This discovery, recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, not only confirms the antiquity of human fascination with fossil remains but also provides tangible evidence of the intentional collection of fossils in the region during the late Mycenaean period, approximately 3,200 years ago.

The fossil in question, identified as the astragalus (ankle bone) of an extinct rhinoceros belonging to the genus Stephanorhinus, was discovered during excavations in the 1970s at the archaeological site of Mycenae, but its true nature and importance were not recognized until now.

This rediscovery in the collections of the Mycenae Museum has allowed researchers, led by Jacqueline S. Meier of the University of North Florida, Vassiliki Pliatsika of the Greek Ministry of Culture, and Kim Shelton of the University of California at Berkeley, to conduct a thorough analysis that reveals not only the identity of the fossilized animal but also the cultural context in which it was deposited.

Ruins of Mycenae
Ruins of Mycenae. Credit: Holger Uwe Schmitt / Wikimedia Commons

The fossil was found in a building in the Southwest Quarter of the citadel of Mycenae, in a room that archaeologists interpret as a storage area. What makes this finding particularly intriguing is its association with a variety of artifacts, including the largest collection of cone shells (Conus ventricosus) ever found in a Bronze Age context in the Aegean, many of which were worked and filled with lead. This juxtaposition of objects suggests that the fossil was not simply discarded, but was likely considered an object of special value, perhaps even with ritual or symbolic connotations.

Morphological and metric analyses conducted by the research team indicate that the astragalus likely belonged to the species Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis, or a variant of S. etruscus, rhinoceroses that inhabited Europe during the Early to Middle Pleistocene. This finding raises fascinating questions about the origin of the fossil, as the remains of S. hundsheimensis have been more securely identified in northern Greece, suggesting that the object may have reached Mycenae through long-distance trade networks, or alternatively, that this species of rhinoceros also inhabited the Peloponnese in prehistoric times.

The researchers speculate that the fossil could have played various roles in Mycenaean society, from being used as an object for games or divination, to functioning as a standardized weight, or even as an object of contagious magic believed to bring luck or mythical essence to its possessor.

Dr. Meier and her colleagues suggest that the presence of this fossil in Mycenae could have contributed to the formation of local myths, similar to how fossils influenced the legends of giants, heroes, and monsters in later historical Greece. The notably large size of the fossilized astragalus compared to the bones of local animals would have been immediately evident to the Mycenaeans, who were familiar with bones through their culinary and craft practices. This distinction could have led to associations with mythical beings of great size, possibly contributing to legends such as that of the Cyclopes, the giants of later Greek mythology who were said to have built the imposing fortifications of Mycenae.

(A) Location of room in the Southwest Quarter of Mycenae and (B) the architecture and exposed bedrock in room Θ3 (lower half of photo)
(A) Location of room in the Southwest Quarter of Mycenae and (B) the architecture and exposed bedrock in room Θ3 (lower half of photo). Credit: Jacqueline S. Meier et al.

Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of exotic objects and relics in Mycenaean ritual practices, especially towards the end of the Late Bronze Age. The perceived antiquity of the fossil could have granted it a special status as a relic, similar to other ancient objects found in Mycenaean contexts long after their creation.

The discovery at Mycenae is not an isolated case but adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting a shared practice of symbolic use of ancient animal parts in meaningful deposits throughout the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age. Similar examples have been found at archaeological sites in Egypt, Cyprus, and Turkey, indicating a widespread fascination with fossil remains that transcended cultural boundaries.

The fossil from Mycenae went unnoticed for decades, cataloged simply as a “large irregularly shaped stone object”. Its reidentification demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary collaboration between archaeologists, paleontologists, and conservation specialists in unraveling the mysteries of the past.

SOURCES

Meier, J.S., Pliatsika, V. & Shelton, K. The earliest evidence of large animal fossil collecting in mainland Greece at Bronze Age Mycenae. Sci Rep 14, 19158 (2024). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68778-w

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