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Researchers discovered a few years ago in eastern Siberia the remains of a 9,300 year old bison. The team of researchers who found the remains of the mummified bison comprised of Olga Potapova and Larry Agenbroad, among others from the Mammoth Site of southwestern South Dakota.
The researchers have named their discovery Yukagir Bison and estimate it to be more than 5 feet tall and weighing more than 1,300 pounds. The scientists were surprised to discover that the teeth of the 9,300 year old bison were still in remarkable conditions. This led the team of researchers to assume that the animal died at a very young age, when he was probably 4 years old.
Potapova explained that at the age of four, the 9,300 year old bison named Yukagir would have been the same size as a six year old American bison. The scientist is referring to the animal’s height, weight and the width between the tips of the horns.
The researcher commented that the 9,300 year old bison had some things in common with the modern American bison, saying the ancient bison is very big for his estimated age. She added that the very big creature probably died of starvation because it showed no signs of fat stores on its body. Also, the scientists did not find any traces of injuries on the bison, so they assume the animal was not killed by any predator. Potapova has been studying these animals at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs for some time now.
The researchers said the 9,300 year old bison is unique because it is complete, from hoof to horn, unlike other fossilized remains that are often discovered to be incomplete.
The 9,300 year old bison has been kept in a deep-freeze facility in a location in Russia that remains unknown at the moment. The National Park Service and the Mammoth Site are working on a secure way to bring the mummified remains to the United States.
Image Source: siouxcityjournal
