Woolly Mammoth Mummy

In the Siberian permafrost a woolly mammoth mummy was found. What's special about this particular woolly mammoth is that it has the most intact mammoth brain that scientists have ever seen. This mummified carcass was found near Russia on the Laptev Sea coast in 2010. Scientists have determined that this 39,000 year old mummy (which they've nicknamed Yuka) was only between the ages of 6 to 9 at the time of her death. The brain is so well preserved you can still see the blood vessels, the folds, and the cerebellum. They found that the forebrain was was in poorer condition, but they also found that in the cerebellum you could still see the grey and white matter. The investigators have also found nervous tissue. This mammoth is still the only mummy with a preserved brain. As well as having a preserved brain, the mammoths dura mater was perfectly preserved as well. The dura mater protects the brain, and the spinal column. The specimen was on display at Russian Geographic Society until November 6th. 


"Woolly Mammoth Mummy Yields Well-Preserved Brain." by Agata Blaszczak-Boxe.
November 7, 2014. LiveScience.

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