In a stunning archaeological discovery, researchers from the Scientific Centre for Arctic Studies have unearthed the remarkably well-preserved remains of a 10-foot-tall woolly mammoth in a Siberian lake.

The mammoth, named Tadibe after its finder Konstantin Tadibe, a local reindeer herder, exhibits an unprecedented level of preservation, with pieces of soft tissue and skin still attached to its bones.

The mammoth, estimated to have lived around 10,000 years ago, succumbed to the icy embrace of the lake, which has kept it exceptionally preserved since ancient times. This remarkable find follows two summers of extreme thawing of the Arctic permafrost, revealing long-hidden creatures in the Siberian Arctic.

The mammoth, named Tadibe, was between 15 and 20 years old when it died. Its discovery provided researchers with a rare opportunity to study well-preserved bones, including a front and hind foot, tendons, soft tissues, and pieces of skin. Additionally, the researchers found fossilized excrement (coprolite) from the mammoth, offering valuable insights into its diet and the plant life of its time.

Although the mammoth’s tusks and trunk are missing, researchers preserved the mammoth’s flesh in a refrigerator for future scientific examination. The absence of signs of attack or butchering by ancient humans suggests that the mammoth may have become trapped in an ice crevice, unable to escape.

The discovery near Seyakha village is a significant boost for scientists working on extracting sufficient DNA from permafrost-preserved woolly mammoths. Researchers from Russia, the US, South Korea, and Japan are actively engaged in efforts to potentially bring these ancient giants back to life through genetic cloning.

The Siberian lake, known for its preservation potential, is considered a potential graveyard of woolly mammoths, with more preserved animals possibly awaiting discovery. However, extracting skeletons is a challenging process, requiring continuous pumping to remove water and sand.

This remarkable find adds to the growing list of well-preserved mammoth discoveries in the Siberian Arctic, contributing to our understanding of these ancient creatures that roamed the planet during the Ice Age.

Woolly mammoths, twice the size and weight of modern elephants, became extinct around 4,000 years ago. The thawing Arctic territories, due to an unusually hot summer, continue to unveil archaeological treasures, offering a glimpse into Earth’s ancient past.