A juvenile mammoth – nicknamed “Yuka” – was found entombed in Siberian ice near the shores of the Arctic Ocean, and shows signs of being cut open by ancient people. The frozen carcass is believed to be at least 10 000 years old – and could prove to be the first mammoth carcass revealing signs of human interaction in the region.

The remarkably well-preserved Yuka was discovered in Siberia as part of a BBC/Discovery Channel-funded expedition; the carcass is in such good shape that much of its flesh is still intact, retaining its pink color. The blonde-red hue of Yuka’s woolly coat also remains.

Said Daniel Fisher, curator and director of the University of Michigan’s Museum of Paleontology;

This is the first relatively complete mammoth carcass — that is, a body with soft tissues preserved — to show evidence of human association.

Humans may have…butchered much of the animal and removing parts that they would use immediately. They may, in fact, have reburied the rest of the carcass to keep it in reserve for possible later use. What remains now would then be ‘leftovers’ that were never retrieved.

No word yet on when they’re going to clone the sucker.

[Source: Discovery]