8 Million-Year-Old Rhinoceros Fossil Discovered in Crete

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A rhinoceros fossil dating back 8 to 8.5 million years has been discovered in the Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark in eastern Crete, highlighting the area’s rich palaeontological heritage.

Researchers identified the fossil as Dihoplus pikermiensis, a two-horned rhinoceros that lived during the Late Miocene.

Professor George Iliopoulos, Professor of Palaeontology and Stratigraphy at the University of Patras, led the research with his team from the university’s Laboratory of Palaeontology and Stratigraphy.

Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Iliopoulos said researchers discovered a new fossil site in March during a palaeontological survey of the Magantze and Trapeza areas of the geopark.

The survey formed part of a collaboration between the University of Patras laboratory, the Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark and the Municipality of Sitia to investigate and showcase the area’s palaeontological wealth.

Among the fossilised bones, researchers found the skull of a large mammal.

“The material was transferred to the Laboratory of Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of the Department of Geology at the University of Patras, where it was cleaned and conserved. During its study, it became clear that it was a rhinoceros skull,” Iliopoulos said.

Rhinoceros lived 8 to 8.5 million years ago

Researchers identified the species from the morphological characteristics of the skull as Dihoplus pikermiensis.

The two-horned rhinoceros lived during the Late Miocene and formed part of the Pikermian fauna, a group of animals that inhabited western Eurasia during that period.

The species has also appeared at other fossil sites in Greece, including Pikermi in Attica.

Iliopoulos said the rhinoceros appears to be roughly the same age as the giant deinothere discovered at Agia Fotia in Sitia, identified as Deinotherium proavum.

This places the age of the newly discovered rhinoceros at approximately 8 to 8.5 million years.

Sitia Geopark spans almost 300 million years of history

The discovery adds to the scientific importance of the Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark, which preserves a palaeontological record spanning almost 300 million years.

Its geological and fossil history includes plant remains from the Carboniferous period, rudists from the Cretaceous, the giant deinothere from the Miocene and endemic dwarf mammals from the Pleistocene.

Researchers had hoped to find more Miocene mammals in the area, but the location of the new discovery surprised them because it lies in a coastal setting.

Iliopoulos said the discovery could mark the beginning of further significant finds.

“The discovery of the Dihoplus pikermiensis skull has confirmed palaeontologists’ expectations that the Sitia Geopark is also important for Late Miocene finds.”

He added that forthcoming scientific publications could place the area on the international scientific map as a site of major palaeontological interest for the Late Miocene.

Research will continue with support from the geopark and the Municipality of Sitia, with the longer-term goal of potentially creating a local palaeontological museum to showcase future discoveries.

Research team

Alongside Iliopoulos, who led the research, the team involved in the excavation and conservation of the Dihoplus pikermiensis included Dr Penelope Papadopoulou, Dr Irena Pappa, PhD candidate Dimitra Valavani, Benoit Ficart and Thomas Beard.

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