SALVADORAN PALEONTOLOGISTS UNCOVER BONES FOR FEATURE, 2001-06-25 (photo)

Juan Carlos Cisneros (Right, with bush hat), a paleontologist at the Tomayate River site explains the importance of the discovery of pre-historic bones to students of the National University, in Apopa, El Salvador, 15 kilometers outside San Salvador, June 25, 2001. The site was discovered by a handyman in April and has yielded the largest deposit of pre-historic bones in Central America. 22 species have been uncovered to date including Mastadons, a Sable Tooth Tiger and a Giant Armadillo. The results of Laser-Argon testing suggest the bones are 8.5 million years old, leaving paleontologists to conclude that the land bridge of Central America is up to 6 million years older than previously believed. dnl/ME