New discoveries suggest that unicorns did exis t and perhaps roamed the earth alongside humans. The extinct species, Elasmotherium sibiricum , also known more commonly as the "Siberian unicorn," is an ancestor of the modern rhinoceros. The species was thought to have gone extinct 350,000 years ago. Paleontologists, however, have discovered a piece of a well-preserved skull fossil in what is now Kazakhstan that is only 29,000 years old.

Scientists believed E. sibiricum disappeared a long time ago as living conditions in Siberia worsened. How did the species survive as the climate of its habitat became increasingly harsh? Andrei Shpansky suggests that the south of Western Siberia acted as a refuge where E. sibiricum survived as other rhinos died out. He also suggests that the animal may have migrated south to escape the harsh climates.

Past studies of E. sibiricum fossils suggest that the animal was the size of a mammoth, standing six feet tall, measuring between 11 and 13 feet in length, and weighing roughly five tons. Its most prominent feature was its incredible horn, which is believed to have been used for defense, attracting mates, driving away competitors, and digging for plants and water. Scientists believe that the unicorn's horn may have reached five or six feet in length, which is significantly larger than a modern rhinoceros' 2 foot horn. E. sibiricum's legs were longer than those of other rhinos and were perhaps used for galloping. The Siberian unicorn was also an herbivore that feasted on mainly grass and roots.

Homo sapiens evolved about 200,000 years ago. These new revelations surrounding the Siberian unicorn suggest that humans and the ancient rhinoceros may have crossed paths many thousands of years ago. The Siberian unicorn may be nothing more than just a glorified modern rhinoceros, but its possible contact with humans may explain the origin of the legendary unicorn.