Collection of Primate Fossils in Po

[mg_myanmar@xxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Collection of Primate Fossils in Pondaung Region Explained

SOURCE:  Information  Sheet No.B-1164 (I)  27 November 1999
           MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE?AYANGON

Collection of Primate Fossils in Pondaung Region Explained
        
     A Press Conference on collection of fossils of
primates and other creatures of Pondaung region by the
study group was held at Myanma Radio and TV on 26
November. The study and collection of fossils began in
Pondaung area in Upper Myanmar in March 1997. The
expedition team has discovered and collected primate
fossils and fossils of various animals. Having
discovered the fossils of the Antropoid Primates, the
expedition team could assert that antropoid primates,
the origin of man, were born in the Pondaung area and
resided there. Scholars of different periods had
written in the books and newspapers their findings of
the fragments of the antropoid primates in the
Pondaung area. However, what had been discovered in
the past were just the fragments of the jawbones with
two or three molars. As such, the scholars found it
difficult to conduct a comprehensive study of the
fossils. Today, the fossil expedition team had
discovered and collected the complete fossils of
Amphipithecus bahinensis, Amphipithecus Mogaungensis
and Pondaungia and as a result it can state firmly
that it had discovered Antropoid Primate fossils in
the Pondaung area. 
     On 1st November,1999, the team of Japanese
scholars led by Professor Dr. Nobus Shighehara of
Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University arrived
in Yangon and jointly conducted field studies and
research in Pondaung area in Pale and Myaing Townships
along with Myanmar scholars from 3rd to 23rd November.
The joint effort of the Myanmar-Japan Pondaung Fossil
Expedition Team has achieved remarkable success. The
team has discovered the new fossils that had not been
discovered in the past. It has also got opportunities
to conduct further researches. In the past, just the
fossils of the lower jawbones of Pondaungia and
Amphipithecus were discovered. Finally, fossils of the
upper jawbones and incisors were discovered. So, the
Myanmar-Japan Fossil Expedition Team has achieved
success. Myanmar-Japan Pondaung Expedition Team found
many fossils of mammals. Included in the finds was a
part of Amphipithecus. This is the first and vital
find during the 70 years of Pondaung excavation. The
find can be said as the much effective result in
studying the evolution of Primates to human beings. It
is estimated that Pondaung Primates of Myanmar are at
least 7 million years older than Fayum Primates of
Egypt. Hence the existence of Anthropoid Primates in
Asia prior to the African forms is quite obvious.
Officials then replied to queries raised by
Journalists. The Press Conference ended at 2.15 pm.
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Mg Myanmar
A Myanmar citizen who loves Myanmar

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