Paleolithic Cave Unearthed



Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- A group for the study of the history of human evolution of Kim Il Sung University recently unearthed a cave belonging to the Paleolithic age at a quarry in Kumok-ri, Sungho district, Pyongyang.

The cave has two approaches, eastern and western, on its southern and eastern sides with 20 metres in between. 10 metres deep there is a horizontal cave 16 metres long, 6 metres wide and 2 metres high stretching eastwest. And 12 metres from the eastern approach there is a column shape vertical cave 6 metres in diametre.

Unearthed there were four Paleolithic stones, a fire place and more than 4,000 pieces of fossil animal including bones broken by stones and burnt bones. More than 20 kinds of fossils are believed to be those of double-horn rhinoceros, buffalo, monkey which lived in hot weather, and wild boar, deer, yellow dog, roe deer, wild horse, cave hyena, tiger, leopard, badger, raccoon dog, big bear, wolf, otter, hare and so on. Rhinoceros, buffalo, monkey, cave hyena and others are thought to have disappeared in Korea tens of thousands of years ago.

Kinds of fossil animals and the level of development of stones unearthed this time suggest that the cave belonged to the late period of the Paleolithic age. The fossil animals are instrumental in the study of the ancient ecological circumstances of Korea and hunting and dietary life of the people in the Paleolithic age.


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