Three-tonne unicorn lived at the same time as human beings, researchers reveal
The Siberian unicorn is rather different from the depiction of unicorns on children’s TV: it’s hairy, has a huge horn, weighs 3.5 tonnes and has no association with rainbows.
Scientists now believe that the Siberian rhino Elasmotherium sibiricum might have been
around far longer than scientists previously believed, and lived at the same time as humans.
Researchers at the Natural HIstory Museum dated remains of the Elasmotherium sibericum (Siberian unicorn), and found it may have lived up until 35,000 years ago.
That would mean that early humans might have seen the huge, one-horned beast – and could have been the source of the myth of unicorns.
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Professor Adrian Lister said, ‘We dated a few specimens – such as the beautiful complete skull we have at the museum – and to our surprise they came in at less than 40,000 years old.’
The Natural History Museum said, ‘It is, however, unlikely that the presence of humans was the cause of extinction.
‘Instead, it is more probable that dramatic fluctuations in climate during this time period, coupled with the specialised grazing lifestyle and the rhinos’ naturally low population numbers pushed the species to the edge.’
