The Museum of the State Cultural Centre hosted the event timed to the World Environment Day. Biologists, personnel of the state natural sanctuaries, ecologists and lecturers of Magtumguly Turkmen State University and International Oil and Gas University as well as students took part in the event.
Representative of scientific circles made reports on ecological range of problems and protection of biodiversity highlighting the importance of protection of genetic fund of flora and fauna of Turkmenistan and its species listed in the Red Book.
Presentation of new book of famous international expert in fossilized fauna, leading scientist palaeontologist, senior scientific specialist of the State Museum Aman Nigarov Ancient Elephants of Turkmenistan published by Science in Turkmen, English and Russian took place under the meeting. Together with description part, the book contains the attachments with the photos of findings proving the existence of three types of ancient elephants, which used to inhabit the territory of Turkmenistan as well as the maps of their areas. The publication will be interesting for palaeontologists, biologists, geologists, lecturers and students of universities as well as large auditorium of curious readers.
Presenting his new work, the outcome of half of a century of scientific activity, Aman Nigarovich noted that the book contains the results of expeditions, description of the bones fragments of these animals found during construction of water reservoirs in Western Turkmenistan, at the banks of Amudarya River, Hazar Peninsula and other places of the country. The work also covers detailed information about the age of the fossils where paleontological material was found, tells about the climate and nature of the period when ancient elephants inhabited the territory of our country, which is time period from 1 000 000 to 200-250 000 years ago.
Enthusiast of his work, the author of more than hundred monographs with fifty years of experience A. Nigarov told that the first findings were made in 1943 and 1952 during geological surveys in South-West of the country. All following year, A. Nigarov undertook field studies, restoration, conservation of the findings, reconstruction for museum demonstration and cataloguing of gathered material. Russian researcher I. A. Dubovo is his co-author and colleague.
The book was published under support of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan and sponsorship of Dragon Oil (Turkmenistan) Ltd. These are the exhibition halls of the State museum which keep several paleontological exhibits described in the book � the reconstruction of the skull of ancient elephant named as Turkmen forest elephant, fragments and last tooth of lower jaw of the elephant tat received the name of Hazar one as well as fragments of enamel of the tooth of another elephant that is called the Southern elephant. The museum has important cultural, educational and scientific mission organizing topical exhibitions, photo expositions, mini vernisages as well as scientific and practical conferences and different educational contests for the kids and youths.
Source: Turkmenistan: the Golden Age Online Newspaper