Pieces of a skull of an prehistoric animal was found in the sand of Verejeni village, Telenesti district. Specialists claim that it is the remains of a mastodon, a distant relative of elephants. The skeleton is over 11 million years old.

"A top molar of the mastodon was found in the oculus of the left molar, and here is the lateral surface with a skull fragment. It is important because it is a very rare piece." A similar piece was found in the last century in the 30's in the village of Fârlădeni, Căuşeni district ", said Teodor Obradă, scientific researcher at the Institute of Zoology, ASM.

The remains are in an office of the Telenesti Town Hall and are to be exhibited at the Ethnography and History Museum in the city. Scientists admit that there is another skull fragment in the sand pit and have decided to continue research when the weather is warming. Local authorities say this discovery is a reason for their pride.

"From the words of a scientist who was examined and said that it is possible to have a dose of radiation, the firefighters told us that he did not have a dose of radiation, I think it is very important, we will learn our times where our ancestors lived "said Victor Bogdan, deputy mayor of Teleneşti.

"It is very gratifying that here in Telenesti was identified this history story, which I understood that on the territory of the republic it is unique and it has to be processed to the conditions that are necessary to be preserved", said Pavel Casian , the head of the Telenesti Town Hall Culture Department.

In Moldova, similar bones were found in 11 localities. They were between five and twelve million years old.