Scientists uncovered giant underground tunnels in South America: Neither humans nor nature made them
The Times of India • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists have discovered a vast network of large underground tunnels beneath southern Brazil and northern Argentina, carved not by humans or natural geological processes but by Ice Age megafauna, likely giant ground sloths.
- These tunnels, some over 550 meters long and up to 1.8 meters high, feature smooth walls with parallel claw marks and uniform curves, indicating they were shaped by powerful animals rather than erosion or human activity.
- Geological dating rules out human excavation, and fossil footprints and claw impressions inside the tunnels match the anatomy of giant ground sloths, supporting the theory that these extinct creatures created the burrows as shelters or temperature-regulated habitats.
- The discovery reveals how Ice Age megafauna influenced subterranean landscapes, affecting soil stability and ecosystems
