The fossil in Burdur sheds light on the saber-toothed cats of Anatolia

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) researchers participated in a study where it was determined that a jaw fossil preserved in the Burdur Archaeology Museum belongs to the saber-toothed cat species Homotherium latidens.

In the research contributed by Alper Yener Yavuz and Ahmet İhsan Aytek from the Department of Anthropology at MAKÜ, Erhan Tarhan from Hittite University, Mehmet Cihat Alçiçek from Pamukkale University, and Orhan Özbey from the Burdur Archaeology Museum also participated.

The fossil found during geological research conducted near Yakaköy in Burdur was examined in detail in terms of jaw and tooth characteristics. Comparisons with fossil samples from Europe and Asia showed that the find is one of the most clearly defined records of the genus Homotherium in Anatolia.

Geological data reveal that the layer in which the fossil was found dates back to 3.3–2.6 million years ago. This finding strengthens the limited records regarding the presence of saber-toothed cats in Anatolia while also contributing to the understanding of the geographical distribution of these animals in the past.

The study, which consists of a detailed scientific description of a fossil in the museum collection rather than the discovery of a new species, sheds light on Burdur's millions of years of natural heritage. The research was published in the PalZ journal on August 7, 2026.

Article DOI: 10.1007/s12542-026-00783-y.