AUGUST 2009

Vestiges discovered in Bayahíbe

In the Chico Cave

BREAKING NEWS: Researchers of the University of Indiana of the United States discovered remains almost intact of a small monkey in a submerged cave in the East of the Dominican Republic, which would oblige to call in question the paleontology studies made until now in all the area.

The research was carried out in the Cave of Chicho, located at the spring of Padre Nuestro in Bayahíbe, and also included the discovery of remains, in good state, of seven sloths, species of which the extinction occurred 6.000 years ago, and also important vestiges of the Taina culture.

The importance of the discovery is the fact that science had never been able to demonstrate the endemic existence of primates in the Caribbean nor cohabitation of those with human beings.

The study of the University of Indiana was carried out with the co-operation of the Secretariat of Culture through the Office of the Subaquatical Inheritance and the Museum of the Dominican Man, the Secretariat of Tourism and the Secretariat of Environment.

We knew that the cave of Padre Nuestro was very important, for the remains of sloths recently found but of primates too ! said Jessica Keller, the researcher of the University of Indiana who made this important discovery.

This discovery could rewrite the paleontology of the Caribbean, she added.

Charles D. Beeker, director of the Office of Subaquatical Studies of the University of Indiana, directs the team who carries out research, which is the same one as that who discovered the remains of the ship of the captain Kidd few years ago.

This cave can keep much answers in relation to the process of continental population and to the appearance and the extinction of animals which do not exist any more, said the researcher.

The site contains invaluable information on the Caribbean and it gives us the opportunity to learn more on the primates, and the disappearance of sloths, namely that it is perhaps not as early as it was thought and if it is related to human, he added.

Bayahibe Live, 03.08.09