Abstract
We report the discovery of abundant skeletal remains of mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach) from late-glacial sediments filling a kettle-hole near Shrewsbury, Shropshire in England. Radiocarbon dated to ˜ 12,800 yr BP, they are by far the latest dated remains of mammoth from Britain, extending its known occurrence there by around 5,000 yr. They provide clear evidence that the full-glacial episode of the last cold stage did not bring about the final extinction of the mammoth in western Europe, but that the species returned in the late glacial before its ultimate demise. The finds represent the most complete mammoths found in Britain, and include the largely complete skeleton of an adult together with partial skeletons of at least three juveniles.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
1. Bowen, D. Q. Geol. J. 8, 207-224 (1973). 2. Garutt, W. E. Das Mammut (Kosmos, Stuttgart, 1964). 3. Gillespie, R., Hedges, R. E. M. & Wand, J. O. J. Archaeol. Sci. 11, 165-170 (1984). 4. Lowe, J. J., Gray, J. M. & Robinson, J. E. (eds) Studies in the Late-Glacial of North-west Europe (Pergamon, Oxford, 1980). 5. Rowlands, B. M. Nature phys. Sci. 230, 9-11 (1971). 6. Stuart, A. J. Pleistocene Vertebrate in the British Isles (Longman, London, 1982). 7. Evin, J., Marien, G. & Pachiaudi, Ch. Radiocarbon 18, 60-88 (1976). 8. Evin, J.. Marien, G. & Pachiaudi, Ch. Radiocarbon 21, 405-452 (1979). 9. Bosinski, G. Der Magdalenian-Fundplatz Gonnersdorf, Vols 1-6. (Steiner, Wiesbaden, 1976-78). 10. Berglund, B. E., Hakansson, S. & Lagerlund, E. Boreas 5, 177-191 (1976). 11. Aguirre, E. E. Estudios Geol. 24, 109-167 (1968). 12. Laws, R. M. E. Afr. Wildlife J. 4, 1-37 (1966). 13. Roth, V. L. & Shoshani, J. /. Zoo/, (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Coope, G., Lister, A. Late-glacial mammoth skeletons from Condover, Shropshire, England. Nature 330, 472–474 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/330472a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/330472a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.