In Yakutia, a team from the North-Eastern Federal University Mammoth Museum conducted a detailed autopsy on a remarkably preserved ancient bison. The discovery was made in the summer of 2022, and the findings were shared in reports from Interfax, with information provided by the university’s press service. The event marks another milestone in the ongoing effort to understand megafauna that roamed northern Eurasia thousands of years ago.
Leading the investigation is Maxim Cheprasov, the head of the NEFU Mammoth Museum. He described the newly found specimen as a juvenile animal, estimated to be about 1.5 to 2 years old at the time of its death. While the exact age of death cannot be pinpointed yet, the conservation state of the remains offers a rare window into the growth and development of ancient bison populations in this region. Earlier fossils from similar finds date back 8 to 9 thousand years and indicate a different developmental stage, underscoring the value of long-term comparative study.
Cheprasov noted that the new bison shows an intermediate biological age, which provides researchers with a unique opportunity to trace ontogenetic changes in ancient bison. Ontogeny refers to the growth and development of an organism from juvenile stages to adulthood, and this find helps map how ancient bison might have progressed through life in extreme northern environments. Such insights contribute to broader understanding of how climate shifts and habitat changes could have influenced their life histories.
Earlier excavations in the region, including discoveries in 2009 and 2010, revealed bison specimens that lived around 8 to 9 thousand years ago. Those individuals apparently died very young, at roughly two months, and at about 4 to 4.5 years of age when their bodies ceased to function. The contrast between those specimens and the current find adds depth to the study of growth patterns and life expectancy among ancient megafauna in Arctic zones.
The current discovery occurred in the new Khaastaakh region, an area explored in part by local residents from the Verkhoyansk district. The preservation state of the specimen is notable: the head, forelimbs, and portions of the chest remain intact. In the autopsy, researchers collected soft tissues, muscles, skin, and wool samples, and the brain was carefully removed for scientific study. These materials are crucial for reconstructing physical appearance, health status, and potential environmental conditions the animal faced during life.
Plans for the near term include a field expedition to the bison’s location during the coming summer. Scientists hope to locate additional fossil material in the surrounding sediments, which could yield new insights into population size, geographic distribution, and ecological interactions of ancient bison in this part of Yakutia.
During the autopsy, scientists gathered a wide array of samples for multidisciplinary analyses. The teams will perform microbiological, histological, cellular, and radiocarbon studies to determine ages, dietary patterns, disease presence, and tissue integrity. The results will be shared across various research institutions nationwide, contributing to a coordinated national program that links paleontology, archaeology, and molecular biology. The collaborative approach underscores how modern technologies, including advanced radiocarbon dating and microscopic examination, enable scholars to reconstruct past ecosystems with greater precision. Researchers emphasize that findings will enrich the scientific record and support national and international comparisons of Pleistocene megafauna, strengthening Canada and United States academic collaborations in related fields of study.