Scientists in Germany have discovered a 17 million-year-old hamster nest they claim is the oldest ever found.

The researchers from the University of Bonn found the fossilised nest complete with nuts and other bits of food near a surface mining area near Garzweiler.

Palaeontologist Carole Gee, who was among the research team, said around 1,200 nuts had been gathered and were lining the walls and corridors of the nest in preparation for the animal's winter hibernation.

Ms Gee added the fruit came from an unusual type of tree that is now only found along the North American Pacific coastline and in East Asia, and is related to the south European chestnut tree.

"The construction of the nest and the way in which the nuts have been stored means it was definitely built by a rodent, most probably a large hamster, or perhaps a squirrel," said Gee.

Stemming from the Miocene Epoch, that was characterised by the development of grasses and mammals, the scientists did not find the remains of the nest's inhabitant.

During that period the climate was much warmer and Germany was also home to crocodiles, apes and palm trees.


View: Full Article | Source: Ananova.com

Very intresting read!

Thanks pappagooch !

Hmm I'm in the US but I wonder if that's where our hamster came from. . . Sailed a crossed the ocean, just to come to Iowa LOL
We never had a hamster before and live in a apartment where each home is separate from the other. About 6 months after we moved in I was taking a midnight potty break to see a shadow of a little rodent eating out of my cat's food bowl. I looked out into the hallway and there was the fearless feline looking at me and this thing, just watching.
I turned on the light for a second to see what this was and it ran towards me(EEEK) and behind the commode. I literally jumped up on the seat expecting a field mouse or something. Then my mind started playing back what I had just seen. This was not a mouse but something brown and white.
By this time I turned on the light and looked behind the toilet to find this cute little guy staring right back at me. As I went to grab him he darted out into the hallway, waking up the fearless feline - who ran scared into the other room. He ran into our spare bedroom and hid in the closet.
I got my hunny out of bed and told him we had a visitor. He looked at me in such disbelief. Like I had finally lost it.
He helped me catch this little guy who my 4 yr old named Fiddy.
He has already escaped and was lost for another month and half. I bought a really nice cage that he won't be able to chew himself out of. I now call him Houdini.
Every time I see a posting from Hammy I think of Houdini.
OBTW we went to every apartment around us thinking someone had lost their little pet. Everyone laughed at us and said no. I think he'd been living off the cat's food supply for the last 6 months till I found him.
LOL

About the 14 million year old hamster nest....we can assume that the hamster was probably eaten and never came back to the nest!