https://phys.org/news/2024-06-siberia-mammoth-graveyard-reveals-year.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 191 * Twit * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Paleontology & Fossils * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- June 10, 2024 feature Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread Siberia's 'mammoth graveyard' reveals 800-year human interactions with woolly beasts by Hannah Bird , Phys.org Siberia's 'mammoth graveyard' reveals 800-year human interactions with woolly beasts Location of the Berelekh geoarchaeological complex within map view, b) termokarst landscape of the surrounding area, c) riverbank within the complex with mammoth bones on the water edge. Credit: Pitulko et al. 2024. Woolly mammoths are evocative of a bygone era, when Earth was gripped within an Ice Age. Current knowledge places early mammoth ancestors in the Pliocene (2.58-5.33 million years ago, Ma) before their populations expanded in the Pleistocene (2.58 Ma-11,700 years ago, kyr). However, as climate changed, their numbers dwindled to isolated populations in modern Siberia and Alaska, until their last dated survival 4 kyr ago. In the East Siberian Arctic (>70 degN), there is not only evidence of significant woolly mammoth populations, but also how humans interacted with them, the focus of new research in Quaternary Science Reviews. Along the Berelekh River, Russia, a 'mammoth graveyard' can be found. Here, thousands of disarticulated bones, representing a minimum of 156 individual mammoths, found alongside an archaeological site indicate the close proximity of these two communities, forming the Berelekh geoarchaeological complex. Dr. Vladimir Pitulko, of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and colleagues aimed to assess the relationship between the 'mammoth graveyard' and the archaeological site through a re-examination of stratigraphic and paleogeographic data obtained in 2009, with new fieldwork focused on the left riverbanks where mammoth bones have readily yielded from their home in the sediment and appeared on the water's edge. Alongside them are remains of Pleistocene hare, Arctic fox and wolves, as well as soot and charcoal from hearths and worked mammoth tusks (one being an unfinished throwing spear). [INS::INS] The researchers suggest humans created these bone accumulations as a byproduct of the production of mammoth ivory technology, while hares may have been targeted for fur to produce winter clothing. Notably, evidence of blowfly pupae activity on cavities in skulls and bones is indicative that the mammoth carcasses were added to the 'graveyard' de-fleshed. Indeed, there appears to be evidence of sorting of the bones, with only the most valuable transported to Berelekh from the area in which the mammoth was killed, leaving behind parts such as spinal columns, carpal ('hand') and tarsal ('foot') bones. Siberia's 'mammoth graveyard' reveals 800-year human interactions with woolly beasts a) Radiocarbon ages showing the temporal overlap of unmodified and human-modified mammoth remains in the bone-bed and archaeological evidence of human settlement at the Berelekh geoarchaeological complex. b) Radiocarbon dating of human interaction with mammoths at the Yana Palaeolithic site, Siberia. Credit: Pitulko et al. 2024. There are three radiocarbon dated peaks in woolly mammoth accumulation at 11.8, 12.2 and 12.4 kyr ago, which fall within known human settlement of the area (11.2-12.4 kyr ago) during the Bolling-Allerod deglacial, when the northern hemisphere warmed and pollen evidence suggests the region became more arid. Fluctuations in the abundance of mammoths in the 'graveyard' suggest human settlement of the area may also have changed through time (frequent occupation but not permanent), which the researchers attribute to environmental changes on the floodplain permitting suitability for erecting campsites. Radiocarbon dating of mammoth remains identifies their presence here pre-dating human settlement (beginning ~12.5 kyr ago), but also shows that humans remained in the area (until ~11.2 kyr ago) after mass mammoth remains accumulation declined (~11.8 kyr ago). Given this, four possible causes are suggested by the scientists to explain such a significant mass accumulation of bones: 1) mass death by natural causes or human, 2) repeated group deaths in the same location, likely due to human predation, 3) concentration of remains by geological processes, such as river action, or 4) solely derived from human predation or scavenging from deceased carcasses. However, the latter is considered to be the most likely to produce useful tools from ivory tusks, as well as meat to feed the community, as there is no evidence on the bones for a cause of mass death, radiocarbon ages do not cluster into multiple phases for recurrent death deposits and stream flows were unlikely to reach sufficient velocities to transport such heavy bones. These findings are concurrent with mammoth remains at the Yana Paleolithic site, also in Siberia. Here, estimates suggest the 'graveyard' increased by 1-2 mammoths per year rather than a mass death event, a figure Dr. Pitulko and colleagues conclude could be similar or even higher for Berelekh. This research is significant as it alters the previously-held belief that there was a lag of 50-80 years between mammoth bone accumulation from natural processes (such as deposition in flood channels) and human settlement, instead now defining a close relationship between the two over 700-800 years. Sadly, now that human-mammoth relationship has continued as ivory hunters have looted the site beyond further study. More information: Vladimir V. Pitulko et al, From the Berelekh 'mammoth graveyard' to Berelekh geo-archaeological complex: Paleoenvironment, site formation processes, and human-mammoth relationships, Quaternary Science Reviews (2024). DOI: 10.1016/ j.quascirev.2024.108692 Journal information: Quaternary Science Reviews (c) 2024 Science X Network Citation: Siberia's 'mammoth graveyard' reveals 800-year human interactions with woolly beasts (2024, June 10) retrieved 11 June 2024 from https://phys.org/news/ 2024-06-siberia-mammoth-graveyard-reveals-year.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Huge trove of mammoth skeletons found in Mexico --------------------------------------------------------------------- 192 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors * Featured * Last Comments * Popular Are men dissatisfied with their penis size more likely to own a gun? Researchers find out 8 hours ago 1 Chemists discover spontaneous nanoparticle formation in charged microdroplets 9 hours ago 0 Thermoelectric effect between two liquid materials observed for the first time 9 hours ago 0 Chinese astronomers discover a high-velocity star ejected from globular cluster Messier 15 9 hours ago 0 Pseudomagic quantum states: A path to quantum supremacy 10 hours ago 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] Study finds human-caused nitrous oxide emissions grew 40% from 1980-2020, greatly accelerating climate change 1 hour ago [gif] Wind from black holes may influence development of surrounding galaxies 1 hour ago [gif] Machine learning speeds up climate model simulations at finer resolutions, making them usable on local levels 2 hours ago [gif] Coastal research shows flood risk for several Alaska communities 2 hours ago [gif] Combined X-ray surveys and supercomputer simulations track 12 billion years of cosmic black-hole growth 2 hours ago [gif] Scientists spot more Milky Way-like galaxies in early universe, advancing our understanding of how galaxies were formed 2 hours ago [gif] Human bodies mostly recover from space, tourist mission shows 3 hours ago [gif] Unlocking the future of sustainable mining through carbon sequestration 3 hours ago [gif] Scientists engineer yellow-seeded camelina with high oil output 4 hours ago [gif] Are plants intelligent? It depends on the definition 4 hours ago --------------------------------------------------------------------- Relevant PhysicsForums posts DNA-maternity test - could you see other relationship than mother? 1 hour ago How do fetuses breathe in the womb? 6 hours ago Insulin resistance and external insulin Jun 10, 2024 COVID Virus Lives Longer with Higher CO2 In the Air Jun 7, 2024 Universal wing- and fin-beat frequency scaling Jun 5, 2024 A DNA Animation May 29, 2024 More from Biology and Medical --------------------------------------------------------------------- [INS::INS] * Related Stories [gif] Huge trove of mammoth skeletons found in Mexico Nov 7, 2019 [gif] 'Mammoth central' found at Mexico airport construction site Sep 4, 2020 [gif] Wooly mammoth movements tied to earliest Alaska hunting camps Jan 17, 2024 [gif] Bioscience firm claims will bring back extinct woolly mammoth Sep 13, 2021 [gif] Archaeologists discover oldest known bead in the Americas Feb 12, 2024 [gif] Well-preserved mammoth skeleton found in Siberian lake Jul 24, 2020 * Recommended for you [gif] First ever report of two ancient ape species cohabiting in Miocene Europe 11 million years ago Jun 7, 2024 [gif] Fossil-hunting diver says he has found a large section of mastodon tusk off Florida's coast Jun 6, 2024 [gif] Tiny roundworms carve out unique parasitic niche inside pseudoscorpion's protective covering Jun 6, 2024 [gif] Geobiologist's team discovers 'missing' sea sponges Jun 5, 2024 [gif] Fishy mystery of Bristol marine reptile solved Jun 5, 2024 [gif] Gigantic Jurassic pterosaur fossil unearthed in Oxfordshire, UK Jun 4, 2024 Load comments (0) Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (only if you want to be contacted back) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. E-mail the story Siberia's 'mammoth graveyard' reveals 800-year human interactions with woolly beasts Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account. Remove ads Maybe later Medical Xpress Medical Xpress Medical research advances and health news Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances Science X Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Science X Account * Premium Account * Archive * News wire * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Phys.org 2003 - 2024 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast