20,000 -year -old giant armadillo fossils are the largest ever discovered

While studying the history of the earth, one of the most exciting things to learn is the existing creature that once dominated our land. In America, animals like megacerops, birds of violence, mammoths, steppe bison, and land sloths have grown from every million to thousands of years ago.

Today, most of these creatures are known only through their bones. This means that when new discoveries occur, paleontologists are rejoice, especially when it is a species that does not have a large sample size to start.

By 2020, an Argentinian farmer was feeding cows as he discovered an interesting set of bones that would stimulate the Paleontological community. What species do these bones have? Has this species ever met humans?

A farmer made a lifetime discovery

A farmer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, found a strange bone in a dry river when he took a cow to weed

Near Buenos Aires in 2020, Argentina, on a dry river, a farmer made a lifetime paleontological discovery. As local farmers Juan de Dios Sota took his cows to rub near the river, he saw something strange on earth besides the receding bank.

After closer inspection, it is not just one strange, but two. They look like bones. As he saw, De Dios Sota acknowledged that this was not the remains of modern herbivores, such as cows and horses. Immediately, he contacted the authorities to investigate.

Megalithic glyptodont discovery

Archaeologists expect to find two glyptodonts but actually find four

Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeological Investigation and Paleontology Pampa Quaternary (Incuapa-Conicet) were brought in to examine and extract bones. What they found was incredible: this was a 20,000-year-old glyptodonts body, creatures like a giant armadillo who lived thousands of years ago.

When the researchers were excavated, they found that not only two were buried on the banks of the dry river. Archaeologist Pablo Messineo, who is part of the investigated team, was quoted as saying:

“We went there hoping to find two glyptodonts when the excavation started and then two more were found!” – through the metro.

Overall, four glyptodonts were found: two adults and two young people. The largest is the size of the Volkswagen beetle. Surprisingly, the four are facing the same direction.

This shows archaeologists that they may have been in groups when they died, all at the same time. At this time it is unknown how they end up.

What is glyptodonts?

These creatures like these armadillo are huge, but, thankful, likes to eat vegetarian diets

The closest thing to Glyptodont today is Armadillo. Although these little ones who roam the United States are cute and play an important ecological role, they do not give us a good picture of what glyptodont.

Although they share shell shells that make Armadillos so iconic, they have some major differences. Many glyptodonts, bigger, for starters. They often reach a height of five feet and up to thirteen feet long! In weight, they can exceed more than 2,000 lbs.

Today, the largest species of Armadillo (a giant armadillo named) only got up to three feet from nose to tail and standing around high feet.

Fun facts: giant armadillos, brothers -glyptodonts, have between 80 and 100 teeth, make it The Terrestrial mammals with the most teeth.

Second, their tails are dangerous. Today’s armadillos have a cute little tail, but glyptodonts have a tail like a club with bone buttons in the end. This may be used to hit the enemy.

Third, unlike armadillos, they will have a plant -based diet. Today, armadillos mainly eat insects, fruits, eggs, and even small animals and carcasses. Despite the possibility that glyptodonts will eat insects and carcasses if the opportunity arises, researchers think this is in addition to their usual vegetarian foods.

In the glyptodonts clad, there are at least 32 different genera, which means that these creatures will have a variety of morphology and behavior. Different genera includes smaller ones Neosclerocalyptusrotund and spiky-ekored Beedicounusiconic Glyptodon and Glyptotheriumand Panochthuswhich does not have a tail bump in favor of smaller spikes.

Has people ever met glyptodonts?

According to the latest human entry into America, humans and glyptodonts may live next to South American Square

For those of us who live in the 21st century, glyptodonts are not animals we usually see when we go on a refreshing walk. The reason? Because they are extinct. Tragically, no one read this would be able to experience the miracle to see glyptodont directly through the underbrush for delicious leaves and grass.

Just because we can’t see it today, however, don’t mean humanity never see them. If you are from South America, it is possible that your ancestors have the privilege of watching these amazing creatures in their natural environment.

New evidence, starting with White Sands Fossil Tracks, have shown that humans have been in America about 20,000-30,000 years. This is timely that glyptodonts run on earth.

Glyptodonts will grow around 20 million years ago. Typically think that they have been extinct about 12,000 years ago, despite new data from Campo Laborde, published in Quaternary international by Gustavo G. Politics and Pablo Messineo (Yes, the same Pablo Messineo from before), indicates that they may have survived the early Holocene (This study gives the date 9700 and 6700 BP for this site).

This means that Humans are with many megafauna ice age for thousands of years, including glyptodonts, mastodons, giant sloths, and more.

What is the relationship between glyptodonts and humans?

Argentina’s archeological sites indicate that humans may have consumed glyptodonts

Based on this data, glyptodonts and humans live adjacent to, potential, about 15,000 years. If humans and glyptodonts shared American Swaths together for a long time, what are their relationships like?

As of 2025, the current evidence shows that these creatures are a source of food for the first human population. Published in 2024Glyptodont belongs to Neosclerocalyptus Species are found near the Argentina Reconquista River. These Neosclerocalyptus, Dating around 20,500 bp, cut off marks showing slaughter. It seems that prehistoric humans cut and eat this glyptodont.

Another study from 2022 published in the Journal of Paleontology Switzerland suggests that six glyptodonts from Glyptotherium The genus dating between 19,800 and 15,000 BP may have been killed by a shot to human head.

After seeing data like this, it’s easy to think that human beings -actually terrorize glyptodonts. It is also theoretical that humans may have led to the extinction of glyptodonts, but this is still debated; Issues such as the climax transition may have addressed a stronger blow to species than human hunting.

Outside of this, we do not know how prehistoric Americans see these enigmatic beings. Is glyptodonts part of their mythology or culture in some way? Are they loved for their quiet and slow movements through under, or are they afraid of their tails?

Although we do not know much about how prehistoric people see glyptodonts, we can guess that other prehistoric events that are extinct may be important to new American people.

Giant sloths species Glossotosium, One of the creatures that make the mysterious giant tunnels found in South Americaalso hunted, but Some of their bones contain bored holes. These holes can be used to turn bone beets into pendants. Humans may have made the art of this creature; a picture of the land sloth and the baby found in Serranía de la Lindosa in Colombia.

Based on this, there is a good possibility that humans have a level of interest in this incredible mammal beyond the purpose of utilitarian food. While we do not know for sure how these prehistoric people see glyptodonts, we can still imagine how extraordinary it is for them to come to strange and beautiful creatures.