Mammoth is a mystery that has been stirring the curiosity of researchers for more than two hundred years. What were these prehistoric animals, how did they live, and why did they die out? All these questions still do not have exact answers. Some scholars blame hunger for their mass deaths, the second blame the ice age, and the third blame ancient hunters who destroyed herds for meat, skin and tusks. There is no official version.
Who are mammoths
The ancient mammoth was a mammal belonging to the elephant family. The main species had sizes comparable to the parameters of their close relatives - elephants. Their mass often did not exceed 900 kg, the growth did not go beyond 2 meters. However, there were more “representative” varieties, whose weight reached 13 tons and a height of 6 meters.
Mammoths were distinguished from elephants by a more bulky body, short legs and long hair. A characteristic feature is the curved large tusks that were used by prehistoric animals to dig food out from under the snow blockages. They also had molars with a large number of dentin-enamel thin plates, which served for the processing of fibrous coarse fodder.
Appearance
The structure of the skeleton, which the ancient mammoth possessed, is largely reminiscent of the structure of the Indian elephant living in our days. Of greatest interest are giant tusks, the length of which could reach up to 4 meters, weight - up to 100 kg. They were located in the upper jaw, grew forward and bent upward, "dispersing" to the sides.
The tail and ears, tightly pressed to the skull, were small in size, there was a straight black bang on the head, and a hump stood out on the back. A large body with a slightly lowered back was based on stable legs-pillars. The legs had an almost horn-like (very thick) sole, reaching a diameter of 50 cm.
The coat had a light brown or yellowish-brown hue, the tail, legs and withers were decorated with noticeable black spots. The fur "skirt" fell from the sides, almost reaching the ground. The “clothing” of prehistoric animals was very warm.
Tusk
Mammoth is an animal whose tusk was unique not only with increased strength, but also with a unique gamut of colors. The bones lay underground for several millennia, mineralized. Their shades have gained a wide range - from purple to snow-white. Darkening resulting from the work of nature increases the cost of a tusk.
The tusks of prehistoric animals were not as perfect as the tools of elephants. They easily ground, got cracked. It is believed that mammoths with their help mined for themselves food - branches, tree bark. Sometimes 4 tusks formed in animals, the second pair was distinguished by subtlety, often merged with the main one.
Unique colors make mammoth tusks demanded in the production of luxury caskets, snuffboxes, chess sets. They are used to create gift figurines, ladies' jewelry, and expensive weapons. Artificial reproduction of special colors is not possible, which is why the high cost of products created on the basis of mammoth tusks is associated. Real, of course, not fake.
Everyday life of mammoths
60 years is the average life expectancy of giants that lived on the earth several millennia ago. Mammoth is a herbivorous animal, mainly herbaceous plants, woody shoots, small shrubs, and moss served as food for it. The daily rate is about 250 kg of vegetation, which forced the animals to spend about 18 hours daily on food, constantly changing their location in search of fresh pasture.
Researchers are convinced that mammoths practiced herd life, gathered in small groups. The standard group consisted of 9-10 adult representatives of the species, and the cubs were also present. As a rule, the role of leader of the herd was assigned to the oldest female.
By 10 years, the animals reached puberty. Mature males at this time left the maternal herd, passing to a solitary existence.
Habitat
Modern studies have found that mammoths that appeared on earth about 4.8 million years ago disappeared only about 4 thousand years ago, and not 9-10, as previously assumed. These animals lived on the lands of North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The bones of powerful animals, drawings and sculptures depicting them are often found in the sites of the ancient inhabitants of the Stone Age.
Mammoths in Russia were also distributed in large numbers, in particular, Siberia is famous for interesting finds. A huge "cemetery" of these animals was discovered on the Novosibirsk islands. In Khanty-Mansiysk, a monument was even erected in their honor. By the way, it was in the lower reaches of the Lena that the remains of the mammoth were first (officially) found.
Mammoths in Russia, or rather, their remains, are still being discovered.
Causes of extinction
Until now, the history of mammoths has large gaps. In particular, this concerns the causes of their extinction. The most diverse versions are being put forward. The original hypothesis was expressed by Jean Baptiste Lamarck. According to the scientist, the absolute extinction of the biological species is not possible, it only turns into another. However, the official descendants of mammoths are currently not identified.
Georges Cuvier disagrees with his colleague, blaming the death of the mammoth flood (or other global disasters that occurred during the disappearance of the population). He claims that the Earth often faced short-term catastrophes that completely destroyed a particular species.
Brocci, a paleontologist originally from Italy, believes that a certain period of existence is given to every living creature on the planet. The scientist compares the disappearance of entire species with the aging and death of the body, therefore, in his opinion, the mysterious history of mammoths ended.
The most popular theory, with many adherents in the scientific community, is climate. About 15-10 thousand years ago, due to the melting of the glacier, the northern tundra-steppe zone became a swamp, the southern one was filled with coniferous forests. Grasses that previously formed the basis of the ration of animals were replaced by moss and branches, which, according to scientists, led to their extinction.
Ancient hunters
How the first humans hunted mammoths is definitely not established so far. It is the hunters of those times who are often accused of extermination of large animals. In favor of the version speak products created from tusks and skins, which are constantly found in the parking lots of inhabitants of ancient times.
However, research today makes this assumption increasingly dubious. According to a number of scientists, people only finished off the weak and sick representatives of the species without hunting for healthy ones. Bogdanov, the creator of the work “Secrets of a Missing Civilization”, makes reasonable arguments in favor of the impossibility of hunting mammoths. He believes that it is simply impossible to break through the skin of these animals with the weapons possessed by the inhabitants of the ancient Earth.
Another good argument is sinewy tough meat, which is almost unsuitable for food.
Close relatives
Elefasprimigenius - this is the name of the mammoths in Latin. The name indicates their close kinship with elephants, as the translation sounds like "first-born elephant." There are even hypotheses that the mammoth is the progenitor of modern elephants, which were the result of evolution, adaptation to a warm climate.
A study by German scientists who compared the DNA of a mammoth and an elephant suggests that the Indian elephant and mammoth are two branches whose genealogy has been going on from the African elephant for about 6 million years. The ancestor of this animal, as shown by modern discoveries, lived on Earth about 7 million years ago, which makes the version entitled to exist.
Known instances
“The Last Mammoth” is a title that can be assigned to the young Dimka, a six-month-old mammoth, whose remains were found by workers in 1977 near Magadan. About 40 thousand years ago, this baby fell through the ice, which caused him to mummify. This is, of course, the best surviving specimen that has been discovered by mankind. Dimka has become a source of valuable information for those involved in the study of an extinct species.
Adams's mammoth is just as famous, becoming the first full-fledged skeleton to be shown to the public. This happened back in 1808, since then the copy is located in the Museum of the Academy of Sciences. The find belonged to the hunter Osip Shumakhov, who lived by collecting mammoth bones.
The Berezovsky mammoth has a similar history, it was also found by the tusks hunter on the banks of one of the rivers of Siberia. The conditions for excavating the remains could not be called favorable; extraction was carried out in parts. The surviving mammoth bones became the basis for the giant skeleton, and soft tissues became the object of study. Death overtook the animal at age 55.
Matilda, a female of a prehistoric appearance, was completely discovered by schoolchildren. An event happened in 1939, the remains were discovered on the banks of the Oesh River.
Revival is possible
Modern researchers do not cease to be interested in such a prehistoric animal as a mammoth. The significance of prehistoric finds for science is nothing but the motivation that underlies all attempts to resurrect it. So far, attempts to clone an extinct species do not produce tangible results. The reason for this is the lack of material of the required quality. However, research in this area does not think to stop. Currently, scientists rely on the remains of a female found not so long ago. The instance is valuable in that it has retained liquid blood.
Despite the failure of cloning, it was proved that the appearance of the ancient inhabitant of the Earth was restored exactly, as well as his habits. Mammoths look exactly as they are presented on the pages of textbooks. The most interesting discovery is the closer the residence period of the discovered species to our time, the more fragile its skeleton.