Discovery of an Almost Intact Woolly Mammoth Mummy During Gold Mining
A Remarkable Find in Canada’s Klondike Gold Mine
On June 26, USA Today reported a groundbreaking discovery by workers at the Klondike gold mine in northern Canada. The miners unearthed a mummy of a woolly mammoth calf, nearly intact and estimated to be over 30,000 years old.
Frozen in Time
The mummified mammoth, believed to have been frozen during the Ice Age, was uncovered on June 21 as miners excavated the permafrost. This significant find was announced by the Yukon government and the Tr’ondek Hwech’in community.
Named Nun cho ga
The woolly mammoth calf has been named Nun cho ga, meaning “big baby animal” in the Han language of the Tr’ondek Hwech’in people. This discovery has generated immense excitement and awe. Peggy Kormendy, a Tr’ondek Hwech’in elder, expressed her amazement, stating, “It’s amazing. I was in awe when they uncovered it. We must treat this with respect.”
A Historic Discovery
According to the official statement, Nun cho ga is the first nearly intact and best-preserved woolly mammoth mummy ever found in North America. The Yukon region is globally renowned for its Ice Age animal fossils, but discoveries of mummies with intact skin and fur are exceptionally rare. This remarkable find offers invaluable insights into the prehistoric era and underscores the importance of respecting and preserving such extraordinary relics of the past.
