Mystery of ancient hunters: Mammoth remains unearthed in Austria
Scientists have discovered mammoth remains dating back 25,000 years. There wouldn't be anything unusual about this if not for the mysterious marks on the animals' bones, suggesting they were hunted and processed by ancient humans.
The discovery took place about 64 kilometres west of Vienna, during excavations in Langmannersdorf. Scientists came across the remains of five woolly mammoths, whose bones and tusks were grouped into two zones, 15 metres apart. In one of these zones, bones of several individuals with clear marks of primitive tools were found, indicating they were processed by humans.
In the second zone, remains of at least three animals were discovered. According to the Live Science portal, archaeologists suspect that people at the time used ivory to produce tools, including spears.
Mammoths were valuable to ancient people
The woolly mammoth, standing about 3.5 metres tall, was a key resource for Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers. It provided food, bones for tools, as well as hides for protection against the cold. Most mammoths became extinct around 10,000 years ago, but small populations survived on isolated islands until 4,000 years ago.
The discovery in Langmannersdorf provides significant insights into the hunting culture of people from the Ice Age. Researchers from the Austrian Institute of Archaeology plan to analyse the bones and stone tools to better understand the lives of these ancient people and their interactions with mammoths. The discovered remains will be deposited in the Natural History Museum in Vienna, and some will be sent to a local museum in the Perschling Valley.
