Ice Age Pup Mystery: Wolves or Dogs?

In the frozen lands of Northern Siberia, a fascinating discovery was made. Two small, furry creatures were found preserved in ice. These were not just any creatures. They were thought to be early dogs or tamed wolves. However, new research suggests a different story. These creatures, known as the Tumat Puppies, might actually be ice age wolf pups. The pups were found near woolly mammoth bones. These bones showed signs of being burned and cut by humans. This led some to believe that the pups lived near humans. But the new research tells a different tale. The pups were only about two months old when they died. They were trapped and died suddenly when their den collapsed. The pups were found with their last meal still in their stomachs. This meal included meat from a woolly rhinoceros and feathers from a small bird. This shows that these ice age wolves had a varied diet, much like modern wolves. The pups were also likely still nursing from their mother. The den collapse was likely caused by a landslide. This is a common occurrence in the area. The pups showed no signs of being attacked or injured. This means they died quickly and peacefully. The wealth of data from the remains is helping scientists understand the everyday life of ice age animals. It is also shedding light on how these animals ate and lived. The pups were found in thawing permafrost. This is a layer of soil that stays frozen all year round. It can preserve remains for thousands of years. The pups were found separately, one in 2011 and the other in 2015. They are approximately 14, 000 years old. This makes them some of the oldest and best-preserved wolf pups ever found. The pups were sisters, which is a rare find. It is even rarer to find two such well-preserved specimens. The pups were found near the village of Tumat. This is about 25 miles from where they were discovered. The pups' remains are helping scientists understand the environment at the time. They are also helping to understand how remarkably similar wolves from more than 14, 000 years ago are to modern-day wolves. The pups were found with their stomach contents intact. This is a rare find. It is helping scientists understand the diet of ice age wolves. The pups were found with plant remains in their stomachs. This shows that they lived in a dry, somewhat mild environment. This environment could support diverse vegetation including prairie grasses, willows, and shrub leaves. The pups were found with no evidence of mammoths in their diet. This means it is unlikely that humans at the site were feeding the canids. It is possible that people shared woolly rhino meat with the cubs. However, the evidence points in the other direction. The pups were being reared in a den and fed by their pack. This is similar to how wolves breed and raise their young today.