Mouth of Hell Yields 50,000-Year-Old Mammoth Secret

A remarkably preserved baby woolly mammoth, nicknamed Yana, has been unearthed in Siberia's Batagaika crater, a massive thermokarst depression known locally as the "Mouth of Hell" or "Gateway to the Underworld." This incredible find offers a unique glimpse into life during the Ice Age.

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Yana, estimated to be over 50,000 years old, was approximately one year old when she died, likely from a back injury. The permafrost in the Batagaika megaslump, a rapidly expanding crater in the Yakutia region of Russia, perfectly preserved her remains. This tadpole-shaped depression is a staggering 330 feet deep and measures thousands of feet in length and width, even visible from space.

Of the seven baby woolly mammoths discovered worldwide, six of them in Russia, Yana is the most complete. Her trunk, lips, ears, and eye sockets are remarkably intact, spared from predators. While some damage from ancient scavengers is evident on her limbs, her internal organs are also preserved.

The discovery, made last summer but only recently announced, reveals that Yana stood about four feet tall at the withers and weighed around 180 kg (approximately 400 lbs). The Batagaika crater, where Yana was found, is an area of significant scientific interest. It emits thousands of tons of organic carbon annually, a figure that may increase as permafrost continues to thaw.

Yana's discovery follows other remarkable finds in the same region, including a prehistoric foal, a sabre-toothed cat cub, and a wolf carcass. Scientists plan to conduct extensive research on Yana next year, which will provide valuable insights into the life, environment, and extinction of woolly mammoths. This discovery highlights the importance of the Siberian permafrost as a time capsule, preserving ancient life for modern study.