Near-Perfect Cave Lion Cub Corpse Found in Siberian Permafrost

Scientists discover two mummified cubs estimated to be approximately 28,000 and 43,000 years old



Aug 10, 2021

The video shows scientists examining a dead lion cub. They take hair samples from the tiny corpse, which looks like it might have died only a few days ago. In fact, it has been deceased for nearly 30 millennia—covered in permafrost in Siberia until recently.

Sparta, as this female cave lion is called, is estimated to be 27,962 years old, according to a study published this month in the journal Quarternary. It may be the most well-preserved specimen ever found—so intact that she still has whiskers, reports Carly Cassella of ScienceAlert. Sparta was likely one or two months old at the time of death.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart...ost-180978403/