The cuts and slashes found on the skin of the woolly mammoth mummy are evidence of ancient humans attempting to butcher it using stone tools.
Described as the most intact woolly mammoth specimen ever discovered, the young female mammoth named Yuka has surprised scientists in a study published in the journal Archaeological Science: Reports. Through the analysis of cut marks on the animal’s skin, the research team determined that it was butchered by humans approximately 39,000 years ago. This represents the earliest evidence of human presence in the Arctic, according to a report by IFL Science on September 27.
Yuka the mammoth may have been killed by a cave lion and butchered by prehistoric humans. (Photo: Zhuravlev Andrey).
Discovered in 2010 in the northernmost region of Siberia, Yuka was about 6 to 9 years old at the time of her death, likely having been hunted by a cave lion. Scientists believe her body froze after falling into a lake, preserving her condition for nearly 40,000 years.
Since its excavation, Yuka’s well-preserved mummy has become a target for researchers aiming to clone and resurrect woolly mammoths. Initial studies of the ancient mammoth’s remains revealed that it still contained liquid blood, and some of its cells showed signs of biological activity. Examination results also pointed to a one-meter-long cut along Yuka’s back, as well as several cuts around her eye sockets. This discovery raised intriguing questions about whether those wounds were inflicted by humans or animals.
To investigate further, the research team conducted a series of experiments on cowhide and the skin of another mammoth, while also performing trace analysis on the cuts found on Yuka’s skin. They found that the cuts had distinct characteristics that were markedly different from wounds caused by animals, indicating that they were the result of human activity.
Consequently, the next question was whether the cuts occurred at the time of Yuka’s death or later. To find an answer, the research team created a series of test cuts using both prehistoric stone blades and metal knives, then compared them to the cuts on the mammoth’s skin. They concluded that the marks on Yuka’s mummy corresponded with experiments using heated stone plates to cut mammoth skin. For instance, animal-inflicted tears did not have the sharp edges and angles characteristic of cuts made by metal knives.
The researchers concluded that the cuts on Yuka’s skin were made by prehistoric humans using stone tools. Based on the preservation state of the skin, it can be confidently said that all cuts were made close to the time when the animal died. They posited that ancient humans butchered Yuka for meat before she froze 39,000 years ago.
