Mysterious Bonehenge in Russia Left Experts Baffled

Dozens of mammoth bones that were made by our ancient ancestors have left a mystery that scientists are still trying to figure out. The ring of mammoth bones is nicknamed "Bonehenge" by experts, and it is said that it has been built around 20,000 years ago which was during the last Ice Age.

Bonehenge circle

The ring of mammoth bones are located on the Russian Plain, and scientists believe that the bones were built by Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers during the Ice Age. They also believe that the ring of mammoth bones were made at a time where temperatures in the wintertime reached as low as -20C (-4F). Archaeologists dig up more than 70 strange mammoth bone structures on the Russian Plain, but a particular site named Kostenki 11, it is believed to be the oldest.

According to Dr. Alexander Pryor from the University of Exeter and the leader of the study, the findings of the mammoth bones shed a new light on the purpose of the mysterious sites. This research was published in the journal Antiquity.Dr. Pryor also said that archaeology is showing us how the ancient people survived in extremely harsh weather conditions and a hostile environment.

Places in Europe that almost have the same latitudes as the Russian Plain during the Ice Age are already abandoned by people because they found it impossible to live in, but these ancient groups had managed to adapt to the environment and climate and they found food, water, and shelter. Most of the bones that they discovered were from mammoths, and it included 51 lower jaws and 64 individual mammoth skulls. The bones were used to create walls for a sturdy structure measuring 30 feet by 30 feet.

There were also bones found scattered across the interior of the circle. There were other animal bones found at the Russian Plain site, like those of bears, wolves, horses, reindeers, arctic foxes, and red foxes, but the bones were smaller in number compared to the bones of the mammoths.

The origins of the Bonehenge

Even today, archaeologists do not know who created the bone structures, and why they created them. Dr. Pryor said that Kostenki 11 showed a rare example of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers who were living in a harsh environment. Mammoths and humans gathered on the site because it was close to a natural print that provided unfrozen water throughout the winter season.

Some archeologists suggested that the ring of mammoth bones were probably used as dwellings. They also thought that the dwellings were occupied for months, but the reason that they did not stick with that conclusion is that there is a stone circle created by ancient humans that experts are still baffled by.

The last Ice Age happened in northern Europe around 18,000 years ago. But the severity of the condition happened around 23,000 years ago. The summers were short and the winters were harsh, long and cold, according to climate reconstructions of the site. After the last Ice Age, the ancient humans who inhabited the site left due to the lack of plant and prey resources, and that resulted in the abandonment of the bone structures.

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