After 26,000 years, the virtually entire skeleton of an Ice Age red fox has been unearthed from a deep cave in distant Utah.#History #VernalUT #News #Utah
VERNAL, UT A remarkable find has revived a fragment of the Ice Age deep within the shadows of Whiterocks Cave in the Utah Uinta Mountains. After a long search, a group of scientists and cavers discovered an almost complete red fox skeleton that had been preserved for 26,000 years. In addition to being one of the most complete Ice Age mammal skeletons ever discovered in northeastern Utah, this discovery offers a unique look into a species that has endured for thousands of years.
A Journey Back to the Ice Age
The skeleton was discovered in one of the cave’s darkest reaches and radiocarbon-dated to around 26,000 years old. The fox was discovered during an era when large ice sheets controlled much of the northern hemisphere, just before the last glacial maximum. To put its age in perspective, by the time the pyramids of Giza were built, the bones had already been in the cave for more than 20,000 years.
Between 300,000 and 130,000 years ago, the red fox, formally known as Vulpes vulpes, made its first appearance in North America from Eurasia. This ancient specimen provides a unique window into its past in the northern and western regions of the continent, even though it is currently one of the most extensively dispersed terrestrial carnivores.
Discovery Deep in the Darkness
The skeleton, which museum workers dubbed Roxy, was discovered half articulated and resting on its left side in a wet, isolated section of the cave. Researchers were astounded by its condition, as almost all of its bones remained intact in spite of the difficult circumstances. This preservation was particularly unique because of the cave’s structures, which included moist surfaces and organic elements like cave bacon.
There was a big mystery around Roxy’s discovery site. How did a little red fox get to be over half a mile deep in the cave’s dark interior? There are many theories, but nobody knows for sure.
A Daunting Expedition
Even though Roxy’s remains were identified years ago, it was difficult to get the fragile bones back. In an area of the cave that required crawling, climbing, and mud-walking, the skeleton was situated at a height of 8,600 feet. To guarantee the bones could be removed safely, the crew carefully placed them into specially made plastic tubes. Every detail was painstakingly recorded and photographed prior to the rescue, which required moving bulky equipment through the tight spaces of the cave.
Nine people participated in the arduous 16-hour excursion, which included six hours of labor within the cave. The difficulty of the trip highlighted the importance of the discovery and the team’s commitment.
A Rare and Significant Find
Few Ice Age mammals had been found in northeastern Utah prior to Roxy’s discovery. A camel shin bone discovered in the 1980s was one of the area’s unusual findings. However, Roxy’s almost complete skeleton is an unmatched find that provides priceless information about the area’s prehistoric wildlife.
Parts of Roxy’s skeleton will be on exhibit at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal after the bones have been thoroughly cleaned, stabilized, and examined. Visitors will get the opportunity to be in awe of an animal that lived on Earth tens of thousands of years ago thanks to this exhibit.
Associated Subjects: History, Science, and Utah
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