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Russian scientists have unearthed more than 500 giant lion bones that they believe were sacrificed in secret cave ceremonies.

The huge collection of remains - which date back as far as 60,000 years - were unearthed in the eerie Siberian Ural mountains.

The mountain range known locally as the Mountain of the Dead - is believed to be home to the mysterious Yeti - and is famed for the mystery disappearance of a group of Russian hill walkers who were killed by a “compelling unknown force” 1959.

Researchers also say they uncovered the skull of a bear which had been pierced by a spear.

The experts say this latest discovery provides more evidence that caves were used as a 'sanctuary' by Stone Age man who would take the super sized wild animals there.

Plant and Animal Ecology researcher Pavel Kosintsev of the Russian Academy of Science told the Siberian Times, said: "We found about 500 bones and fragments of bones of the giant cave lion. But there could be more, after we finish with sorting the collection.

"Such a large quantity of giant cave lion bones at one site is really unique, the only one in the world so far discovered.

"The spearheads are the only sign of human activity - and it is also quite strange.

"If ancient people lived in this cave, they should have left the traces of making the spearheads, and bones of the animals which people ate.

"Here we see only the spearheads and it is further evidence in favour of the sanctuary hypothesis.

"People did not live here, they used this place for some other purposes, most likely, as a sanctuary.'

(Image: PAVEL KOSINTSEV/THE SIBERIAN TIMES)

The bones and weaponry discovered is creating excitement among scientists because it offers a 'very large collection', according to Dmitry Gimranov the excavation lead.

And while the scientists are still to date the exact age of the creatures - which are 25 per cent bigger than today's indigenous African lions - they are believed to have become extinct around 13,000 years ago.