Scientists claim that ancient cave lions may have been hunted to extinction by prehistoric people. Researchers believe that they have found the remains of a cave-lion pelt inside a cave. The pelt was evidently used for covering a ritual hut, which may have been built about 16,000 years ago.

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These specimens were found in the La Garma cave in Spain. While it is not clear what kind of ceremonies were carried out in the cave, it seems likely that the lion pelt was used either as a roof or as a rug.

The research team, which was led by Edgard Camaros of the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution, discovered nine fossilized claw bones in the cave. The claws belong to Eurasian cave lion, which is now extinct.

The claws were found close to an area in the lower gallery of La Garma. The cave's entrance was blocked in the late Pleistocene. Camaros said that the cave is like a closed box and everything inside it remains as they were left during prehistory. He described the cave as "the perfect time machine." Out of the nine fossilized remains, only one was attached to the cave floor. Other remains were then cast in silicone for research purpose.

The scientists believe that all the nine claws belong to one lion. However, it may not be possible to carry out DNA analysis as the process may lead to the destruction of the fossils. Camaros said that since the claws are the same size, the likelihood of them belonging to one lion is high.