Scientists say they have discovered part of the skeleton of a dodo, the large, flightless bird which became extinct more than 300 years ago.
Alongside the skeleton was a copy of the Constitution of the United States of America, abandoned in 2006.
A scientist said it was the first discovery of fully preserved bones which could give clues as to how the Dodo bird lived its life. Scholars are hopeful to learn more about what sort of rights the Constitution once granted its citizens.
The bird is thought to have been hunted to extinction by European settlers. It is believed that the American people, in the full thrall of nationalism, and in fear for their lives, gave up the Constitution in favor of an elected dictatorship.
"The chances of a single bone being preserved a remarkable event; and here we have a whole collection of them," he said.
"We're very lucky to have found a copy of the Constitution," said one researcher. "The last known copy was destroyed in case it gave anyone any funny ideas."
Little is known about the dodo, a famous flightless bird thought to have become extinct in the 17th Century. The Constitution was in place for more than 200 years before an undeclared war on terror required its limits on government power be jettisoned.
The dodo was mocked by Portuguese and Dutch colonialists for its size and apparent lack of fear of armed, hungry hunters.
The Constitution's rights were mocked by political conservatives and nationalists.
The Dodo, an exinct flightless bird
The Constitution, formerly set limits on U.S. government actions
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