Map of Asian Elephant (IMAGE)

Aarhus University

Map of Asian Elephant

Caption

Map of the northern boundary of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in the study area over the past four millennia, based on multiple archaeological and historical sources. The distribution dynamics were inconsistent with the trend of mean annual temperature across the study area. Oracle bone scripts were used for divination by a cultural group recognized as Chinese ancestors ruling much of the North China Plain. The significant similarity between these scripts and their modern forms for the large mammals supports the past wide distribution of these taxa in ancient China.

Credit

Shuqing Teng

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