Archaeologists have found artifacts from the bones of an extinct giant sloth (Glossotherium phoenesis) in one of the caves of Santa Elina (Brazil). Dating showed them to be between 25,000 and 27,000 years old. A study on this has been published in the journal. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Discovered objects have obvious traces of processing, including holes. In addition, the surface of some of them has been carefully polished. There were also stone tools in the cave.

To be sure of the man-made origin of the artifacts, the scientists conducted a comparative analysis of the traces. After all, the carcass of a dead animal can be eaten by rodents. Various microscopic and macroscopic imaging techniques have shown that small holes cannot occur naturally.

Thus, the archaeologists concluded that the remains of the sloth were transformed by the hand of one of them and used as ornaments.

Currently, scientists are questioning the settlement theory of South America. Until now, it was believed that the first humans came to this continent no more than 10-12 thousand years ago. However, this may be fundamentally wrong, since the pendants in the Brazilian cave are twice as old.