The Saber-Toothed Tiger 700,000 Years Ago

On the plateau of Madonna del Piano and Cesi, a fossil deposit has been identified, yielding remains of the saber-toothed tiger (Homotherium sp.), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus sp.), rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis), elephant (Elephas sp.), horse (Equus bressanus sussenbornensis), deer (Dama clactoniana, Megaceroides solilhacus, and Cervus elaphus), and bison (Bison schoetensacki).

The fluvial-lacustrine stratigraphic sequence is capped by volcanic ash deposits from Tuscan-Lazio volcanism, dating back to 500,000 years ago. The chronological interval separating the Collecurti and Cesi deposits was characterized by general cooling and drying of the climate with glacial characteristics. The landscape consisted of small lake basins surrounded by extensive grasslands and predominantly coniferous forests, as documented by numerous pollen data collected.

The Cesi faunal association, dating back to 700,000 years ago, developed in newly mild climatic conditions in a lacustrine environmental context, with the constant presence of the hippopotamus associated with the elephant, rhinoceros, and saber-toothed tiger. However, compared to Collecurti, Cesi more markedly shows the arrival of new species adapted to a cooler climate, such as the bison, bear, horse, and new species of deer.

Excavation activities continued from 2004 to 2013 at the Collecurti site; concurrently, the restoration of the finds was carried out, facilitated by the establishment of the Restoration Laboratory in the Municipality of Serravalle di Chienti, which is now the Mu.P.A. Museum.