Uncategorized
Ice Age Bison Preserved for 30,000 Years Found in Yukon – The Daily Galaxy
May
A perfectly preserved ice age bison, frozen for 30,000 years, has been uncovered in the Yukon. This rare discovery offers unprecedented insights into ancient life and the environment of the Pleistocene epoch. Curious?
Researchers have uncovered a perfectly preserved ice age bison in the Yukon Territory of Canada.
The specimen, estimated to be around 30,000 years old, is one of the most complete ice age mammal discoveries in North America.
Animals Around the Globe reports that, unlike typical prehistoric finds, which are often fragmented or incomplete, this bison specimen has retained much of its biological integrity.
Its discovery includes not just skeletal remains, but also intact soft tissues, fur, and even internal organs.
The bison, classified as Bison priscus (the extinct steppe bison), measures about 7 feet in length and stands roughly 6 feet tall at the shoulder.
What makes this find even more extraordinary is the preserved reddish-brown coat, still visible in patches across the animal’s body.
Its massive horns, which span nearly 3 feet, further highlight the exceptional condition of the specimen.
The key to the bison’s extraordinary preservation lies in the unique environmental conditions it experienced after its death.
Following its demise, the animal was rapidly buried by a mudslide during the spring thaw, which soon froze due to the drop in temperature. This sequence of events trapped the bison in a frozen state, preserving its soft tissues for millennia.
The permafrost provided an oxygen-poor, subfreezing environment that significantly slowed bacterial decomposition and kept the specimen intact.
The rapid freezing of the bison helped it escape the typical decomposition processes, while the mineral-rich soil around it further inhibited microbial activity.
This set of circumstances created a natural “mummification” process, preserving not only skeletal elements but also soft tissues and organs.
This rare preservation allowed scientists to extract high-quality DNA from the bison.
Through genetic analysis, researchers have uncovered groundbreaking information about the bison’s lineage.
The DNA extracted from the specimen confirms that it belongs to the Bison priscus species, the ancestor of both the modern American bison (Bison bison) and European bison (Bison bonasus).
The preserved tissues provide the most complete genetic profile of an ice age bison to date.
Scientists analyzed the contents of the bison’s digestive tract, which revealed a diet consisting mainly of grasses, sedges, and early spring plants. Isotopic analysis of its teeth and fur further suggests that the bison participated in seasonal migrations, covering hundreds of miles as it moved between feeding grounds.
The excavation of the bison involved a collaboration between modern scientists and local Indigenous communities. These communities, who have lived in the Yukon for generations, played an integral role in the research process.
This partnership between Western science and Indigenous knowledge holders is not only enriching the research, but also creating a model for respectful, inclusive approaches to paleontological discoveries.
Indigenous communities have been involved at every stage of the excavation, with their expertise contributing to a fuller understanding of this ice age find.
The excavation itself required careful planning and coordination. The team of researchers, paleontologists, and conservationists worked under strict protocols to ensure that the specimen was removed from its frozen tomb without damage.
Special refrigerated containers were used to transport the bison to research facilities, where the team continues to study its preserved tissues and learn more about this remarkable creature.
I would have loved a picture.
© 2024 | Daily Galaxy | All rights reserved
