A mummified wolf cub and a caribou cub were found in mines in Yukon, Canada. A sensational discovery. The two creatures have been very well preserved and date back to the Ice Age
A mummified wolf cub and a caribou cub were found in mines in Yukon, Canada. A sensational discovery. The two creatures have been very well preserved and date back to the Ice Age.
Spotted near Dawson City, the animals were nearly intact, complete with their heads, tails, fur and muscle tissue. Unearthed from the permafrost, they had been identified in 2016 but now thanks to radiocarbon dating it has been possible to learn more about them.
The news was announced in recent days by the head of Tr'ondëk Hwëch 'Roberta Joseph, by the premier Sandy Silver and by the minister of tourism and culture Jeanie Dendys.
The ancient specimens dating back over 50.000 years have been unearthed by the Yukon Paleontology Program for research and analysis.
The little one of mummified caribou was found inside the Paradise Hill Gold Mine on June 3, 2016. Of the fossil specimen, the entire anterior half remained almost intact, including the torso, head and two forelimbs, as well as skin, muscles and hairs. The caribou was discovered at a site that contains a volcanic ash bed that dates back to around 80.000 years ago, making it the oldest mummified tissue in the world.
Il wolf cub instead it was discovered about a month later, on July 13, 2016. The specimen is exceptionally well preserved. It too has a head, tail, legs, skin and hair.
Due to their great scientific value, both will be hosted by the Canadian Conservation Institute and will remain on display in Dawson for the rest of the month.
“Together with Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in we are thrilled to share these significant discoveries that show Yukon's unique scientific and cultural history. These samples will help scientists to learn more about the ancient mammal species that roamed Beringia, increasing our knowledge and the ability to share the stories of this lost and ancient land " are the words of Prime Minister Sandy Silver.
These are very rare animals, the discovery of which could provide unprecedented information on the history of the ice age by helping scientists to understand how these disappeared creatures lived in their natural environment.
READ also:
- Lyuba: face to face with the world's best-kept baby mammoth
- Found horse 40 thousand years ago: it was hidden in the Siberian permafrost
Francesca Mancuso
Gallery
