Dawson City, Yukon
A snapshot of the lives of ancient predators and their prey is shown as mummified ice
In the Yukon, the age remains of a reindeer and a wolf are unveiled.
Paleologist Grant Zazula said Thursday that specimens unearthed southeast of Dawson City in the Yukon are one of the world's oldest mummified mammal soft tissues.
"Occasionally we find the remains of ice --
But as far as important and crazy things like this are concerned, this is very, very rare. ” Zazula said.
The radioactive carbon age of both specimens dates back more than 50,000 years, when the northern landscape was an extremely cold, grassy tundra.
Although the area around Dawson City is a Northern Forest today, it is likely that puppies and calves will sail in a world without trees, where the cold, dry wind blows dust, said zazula, the deposits found on animals prove this.
Many other animals that roam the land while alive are now extinct, including Western camels and wool elephants.
Both specimens were found by miners.
In June 3, 2016, mummified reindeer were found on the gold sands of Tony bitters, Paradise Mountain.
It includes almost the entire first half of the reindeer body, including the torso, head and two front limbs, with the skin, muscles and hair intact.
Reindeer live in a place with an ash bed that dates back about 80,000 years.
"We think this is probably the oldest soft mammal mummy organization in the world.
"Organize the skin, hair and muscles," Zazula said . ".
Wolf was found in fafron Enterprise Co. , Ltd. on July 13, 2016.
Claim, very well preserved.
"It's beautiful, fur, lovely little claws and tail, and curly upper lip with teeth.
It's so spectacular, "he said.
Zazara said local biologists were thrilled to see the remains.
"We sometimes get jealous because in Siberia we have colleagues who work in Russia and it seems like they find a new wool elephant corpse every summer.
But we never seem to have found these things in the Yukon or Alaska . "
Some 30 years ago, paleontology in the Yukon discovered the mummy of a horse, but zazara said he did not know of any significant softness --
From then on, specimens of mammals have been organized.
The researchers will look at these remains to see how they can learn about the ancestors of reindeer and wolves through genetic testing.
They can also learn about the animal's diet by studying the chemical composition of the animal's bones and other strategies that hold clues about the environment at that time.
In addition to science, Zazula said, he hoped the specimens would link the audience to another time.
"It's one thing when you see fossils.
But when you see a complete animal from ancient times, it will bring ancient times to life, "he said.
"It allows you to think about the amazing changes that have taken place in the environment, climate and animal communities since then.
"These mummies will be on display in Dawson City, and will then take part in the exhibition at the Beringia interpretation center in Whitehorse Yukon.
