FOSSIL REMAINS FOUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 12

FOSSIL REMAINS FOUND.

THE EXTINCT NOTQTHERIUM. LIVED OVER 15,000 YEARS. AGO The fossil remains of an extinct animal, the Nototherium, which is believed to have lived between 15,000 and, 20,000 years ago> have beon discovered among the Tertiary fossils of the Pualka caves, in Ketona.

It is regarded as a fine specimen, and in the opinion, of experts presides additional evidence of the prehistoric existence of cavemen in the locality. The Nototherium was probably allied to the wombat, although about the size of a modern cow. The fossils were found by Mr. J. S. Lockie, in a cave adjoining the Kangaroo Cave, in which were found recently skulls of extinct giant kangaroos and a prehistoric flint dawnstone, shaped and used by'human beings. The fossil included the almost complete lower jaw of a Nototherium and portion of the upper jaw, both containing teeth in an almost perfect condition. Tiie new field is about 30 miles on the Victorian side of the South Australian border.

The surrounding country has been explored by the naturalist, Mr.. Charlos Barrett, and is rich in sites of ancient mi a mias, from many f which he has gathered flint, scrapers. Many of those probably are centuries old, but their age is negligible when they are compared with the dawnstone found by Mr. Lcckie.