All articles tagged with #iceage
Scientists sequencing the woolly rhino genome from preserved muscle found in a 14,400-year-old wolf pup’s stomach reveal the rhino population remained viable in northern Siberia until near the end of the Ice Age, with extinction likely driven rapidly by climate warming rather than human hunting.
The discovery of a 17,000-year-old blue-eyed baby boy's remains in Italy's Grotta delle Mura cave offers insights into the genetic diversity and social structure of ice age hunter-gatherers. DNA analysis reveals the child had blue eyes, dark skin, and curly hair, and belonged to the Villabruna cluster. The infant likely suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, possibly contributing to his early death. The findings highlight the challenges of limited genetic diversity and health risks in isolated prehistoric communities.
Researchers have confirmed that a woolly rhino discovered in Siberia in 2020 had a fatty hump on its neck, resolving a long-standing mystery about ancient cave drawings depicting such a feature. The specimen, found in Yakutia and dated to approximately 32,000 years ago, was in good condition and showed a 13-centimeter hump, providing the first physical evidence of this characteristic in woolly rhinos. This discovery supports the idea that the hump served as an energy reserve during harsh winters.