Scientists gathered around the Yuka mammoth, which was remarkably well-preserved in the permafrost, with even most of its brain still intact. Photo: Academy of Sciences of Yakutia
In a remarkable discovery that pushes back the timeline of human presence in the Arctic, researchers have uncovered evidence of human activity there dating back an astonishing 39,000 years. This groundbreaking finding comes from the exquisitely preserved remains of a young female woolly mammoth, named Yuka, discovered in 2010 by tusk hunters in the extreme north of Siberia.
Yuka’s remarkably intact body, believed to have been preserved after falling into a lake and freezing, has provided scientists with an unprecedented window into the distant past. Estimated to have been between six and nine years old at the time of her death, Yuka’s remains have been hailed as possibly the best-preserved woolly mammoth corpse ever found.
The level of preservation is truly extraordinary. Early studies on Yuka’s ancient body yielded astonishing results: researchers found that it still contained liquid blood, a finding that defies expectations for a specimen of this age. Even more remarkably, some of Yuka’s cell nuclei continue to exhibit signs of biological activity, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the cellular structures of an animal that walked the Earth tens of thousands of years ago.
What makes this discovery particularly significant are the distinct cut marks observed on Yuka’s hide. Researchers noted a meter-long incision along her back and cuts around her eye sockets, raising intriguing questions about their origin. To investigate, a team of scientists conducted a series of experiments using both stone tools and metal knives on cowhide and mammoth skin samples. The findings were were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
The analysis revealed that the incisions on Yuka’s hide closely matched those made by prehistoric stone blades. The cuts lacked the sharp transitions and angles characteristic of metal knife marks, effectively ruling out the possibility of more recent human interference. Furthermore, the state of the hide’s preservation indicated that these cuts were made shortly after Yuka’s death, approximately 39,000 years ago.
Yuka was most probably killed by humans.
This finding not only confirms human presence in the Arctic nearly 40 millennia ago but also sheds light on early human hunting and butchering practices. The location and nature of the cuts suggest that humans were actively processing Yuka for meat, providing valuable insights into the survival strategies of our ancestors in this harsh environment.
Yuka’s discovery occurred in the Oyagos Yar area of Yakutia, Russia. Radiocarbon dating of a rib fragment yielded an age of 34,300 ± 260 years, corresponding to 39,440-38,850 calibrated years before present. This places Yuka’s existence during Marine Isotope Stage 3, a relatively warm period in Earth’s climate history.
The circumstances of Yuka’s death remain a subject of debate among researchers. Some evidence suggests she may have fallen victim to cave lions, as indicated by claw marks on her legs and ventral body. However, the human-made incisions point to subsequent butchering by early humans, possibly following an attack by cave lions, highlighting the complex interactions between prehistoric predators and human hunters.
Yuka’s exceptional state of preservation has made her a subject of intense scientific interest beyond just archaeological studies. The presence of liquid blood and biologically active cell nuclei has opened up new avenues for research into ancient biomolecules and cellular structures.
This cellular vitality caught the attention of a Japanese research team from Kindai University, led by biologist Kazuo Yamagata. In a 2019 experiment, they managed to stimulate nucleus-like structures from Yuka’s tissue to perform certain biological processes. While they were unable to achieve cell division, this experiment represents a significant step in understanding the potential for reviving long-extinct species.
The discovery of Yuka has also reignited discussions about the possibility of cloning and resurrecting the woolly mammoth. While this remains a controversial and technically challenging prospect, the preservation of biological material in specimens like Yuka provides valuable genetic information for such endeavors.