Boys find ancient bones of prehistoric elephant in Germany
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Constantin and Alexander initially found just one bone near Munich
Two boys have found the bones of a prehistoric elephant that is thought to be the largest land mammal to have ever lived in Germany.
Scientists believe it would have lived somewhere outside of what is now the city of Munich, around 10 million years ago.
The rare bones have given scientists more of an idea what the extinct animal deinotheria would have looked like.
When the two brothers made the discovery they initially thought it was just some wood.
The rare bones give an idea of what the extinct animal would have looked like
It's thought that the mammal would have weighed up to 12 tonnes and had a shoulder height of up to five metres - that's taller than a double decker bus.
The father of the boys who made the discovery, is the director of a prehistoric museum, he says the mammal "had its tusks coming out of its lower jaw" unlike the elephants we know today.
Initially, 9-year-old Constantin and 10-year-old Alexander found just one bone near the district of Erding, in Taufkirchen near Munich.
But after further excavations a total of 120 bones were found.
Scientists think the mammal would have been taller than a double decker bus
When the boys found the first bone, they were worried they had damaged their rare find.
Alexander said: "Unfortunately, when we uncovered it, a really big boulder fell on it and dad was afraid that the bone had broken. But luckily it wasn't broken after all."
The boys' discovery is set to go on display at their dad's prehistoric museum.
What do you think of the boys' discovery? What's the best thing you have ever found in the ground? Let us know in the comments below.
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