Nguyen Van Quang, a resident of the northern Thanh Hoa Province's Tho Xuan District, has discovered an ancient ceramic vase that is suspected to contain a mammoth's fossilised teeth.

Nguyen Van Quang with the rock suspected of a mammoth fossil. — Photo dantri.com.vn

Quang said he found the vase earlier last week while swimming in the River Chu, about 1km from Lam Kinh Temple, a hlistorical vestige in the province.

He first thought it was a gem stone, and displayed it on a shelf in his home.

However, Quang said, after reading archeological books and speaking to some archeological workers who visited his home and saw the rock, he suspected it was the fossil of very large animal.

The rock, weighing 3.7kg, and measuring 20cm in length, 15cm in width and 7cm in height, is shaped like a set of teeth of a prehistoric mammoth.

Quang said after the news of his discovery spread throughout the area, many people came to him and tried to convince him to sell it at a very high price of more than VND100 million (US$5,000). But Quang refused to sell it.

He said he was keeping the fossil carefully and was waiting for scientists to study it. 

VNS