Home / Science / Ancient Bones Emerge from Arctic Glacier: 11,000 Years Old!
Ancient Bones Emerge from Arctic Glacier: 11,000 Years Old!
11 Aug
Summary
- Marine mammal bones, at least 10,000 years old, thawed from beneath an Arctic glacier.
- Remains dated to 11,000 years old were found during a 2025 expedition.
- Scientists are also planning to study ancient DNA and search for paleomicrobial genes.
Scientists have determined that marine mammal bones, recently thawed from beneath a glacier on Wilczek Land Island, are at least 10,000 years old. The remains were initially discovered during an expedition in 2025, with radiocarbon dating tests conducted in the laboratory confirming an age of 11,000 years.
Subsequent expeditions in 2026 continued the study, identifying thirty-nine new sites with animal remains. These bones, found about a kilometer from the shoreline, are believed to be too heavy to have been deposited by waves or wind. Future research will involve determining the age of these new finds, as well as studying ancient DNA and paleomicrobial genes.
