In the area of Mesaria in the Xarkadio cave, bones of dwarf mammoths have been found dating back to 7,000 BC. More than 15,000 bones from at least 40 dwarf mammoths were found in the cave. At the same time, the paleontological excavation carried out in 1971 in the cave brought to light and deer bones, which lived 140,000 years ago
Dwarf mammoths lived from 50,000 to 4-3000 years ago.
These small mammoths adapted to the environment after Tilos was cut off from Asia Minor (12000 - 8000 BC), but over time, the species became extinct, probably due to the eruptions of the volcanoes of Santorini and Nisyros, since the bones were buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash.
Also, Neolithic pottery, stone tools and clay sherds of all periods were found in the cave, testifying to the continuous habitation of the area until the Chivalry.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou