Study was lead by my postdoc @M_skovrind and included a couple of other folks from my lab @marie__louis @Mick2474 - and many other great collaborators whose handles I cannot find on X! You'll have to check out the paper to see.

RT @ElineLorenzen: Our preprint now out integrating radiocarbon dating, aDNA, palaeoproteomics, and stable isotopes to investigate 39 mammo…

Thanks to co-authors @FridoWelker and I can't find any other co-authors here - argh! You'll have to check the bioRxiv link.

Our data furthermore provide novel insights into the palaeoecology of the Kostenki mammoths; combining genetic sexing with stable isotope analysis, we provide the first evidence that mammoth sexes did not partition resources.

Mammoths have a matriarchal social structure, with herds comprising females and their offspring; our findings suggest mammoth herds were targeted for resource and bone acquisition.

We identify six mitochondrial genome haplotypes among 16 mammoth individuals, providing evidence the mammoths are not all from the same matrinline. Using ancient DNA and palaeoproteomic analysis, we sexed 30 mammoths, and found the predominance of females at the site.

We furthermore identify two older mammoth remains at the site, providing compelling evidence of scavenging of bone remains from long-dead mammoths for use in the construction of the structure.

Based on eight new reliable radiocarbon dates from the site, and available published dates, we identify two phases of activity at the site 25,040-24,670 cal yr BP and 24,580-24,230 cal yr BP.

Circular structures made from the bones of woolly mammoths are known from across the central European Plain; most are found along the Desna/Dnepr River systems in present-day Ukraine and Russia.

Our study on the dynamics and causes of woolly rhino extinction at the end of the last Ice Age is out in print, and features on the cover of PNAS this week.