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Thawing Permafrost in the Koryak Mountains Reveals 6,000-Year-Old 'Paleo-Siberian' Bone-Tipped Spears with Intact Sinew

📅 April 8, 2026 📰 Climate Archaeology Today
Thawing Permafrost in the Koryak Mountains Reveals 6,000-Year-Old 'Paleo-Siberian' Bone-Tipped Spears with Intact Sinew

Ongoing warming in the Koryak Mountains of the Russian Far East has led to the discovery of a remarkably preserved cache of hunting equipment belonging to Paleo-Siberian hunters. The find includes three spears tipped with finely flaked walrus bone, still securely attached to cedar shafts with original caribou sinew binding that has remained frozen for six millennia.

The preservation of organic materials has allowed researchers to extract ancient DNA from the sinew and analyze the microscopic residue on the spear tips, revealing traces of bowhead whale and seal oil. This site offers an unprecedented look into the dietary habits and craftsmanship of high-latitude coastal communities during the mid-Holocene period.

Original source: Climate Archaeology Today