Huge Cache of 1.4 Million-Year-Old Fossils Found in California

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Fossils found in China. REUTERS/Chinese Academy of Sciences/Handout

A utility company in California was set to start building their newest substation when they uncovered a stash of animal fossils dating back 1.4 million years.

The fossils, which include bone pieces from a saber-tooth tiger ancestor (awesome!), grizzly-bear-sized ground sloths (terrifying!), and various types of plants, are being hailed as an amazing discovery.

The Associated Press reports that the fossils are 1 million years older than those found in California’s famous La Brea Tar Pits.

Microbiologist, Rick Greenwood, told the AP that “if you step back, this is just a huge find. Everyone talks about the La Brea Tar Pits, but I think this is going to be much larger in terms of its scientific value to the research community.”