The Jarkov Mammoth is a well-preserved woolly mammoth discovered in the Siberia permafrost. It had been frozen in the ground for about 20,000 years. In 1999, scientists airlifted the mammoth encased in a 23-ton block of frozen earth so it could be carefully studied without damaging the remains.
The Jarkov Mammoth was found by the Nenets reindeer herder family, the Jarkovs, who noticed tusks protruding from frozen ground. Paleontologists, led by Bernard Buigues, extracted the 23-ton block of permafrost containing the mammoth using helicopters and heavy equipment. This method allowed scientists to preserve the specimen’s context and fragile tissues.
The excavation was featured in international documentaries, including Raising the Mammoth (2000) by the Discovery Channel, which showcased the unprecedented logistics of lifting an entire frozen carcass intact.
u/Sanetosane — 2 days ago
