A first in the European Arctic: Remains of 46 different species found

During studies carried out in the Arne Qvamgrotta Cave near the city of Narvik, traces of species such as polar bear, walrus, bowhead whale, Atlantic puffin, eider goose, mountain ptarmigan and Atlantic cod were found.

In addition, remains of a collared lemming, an extinct species in Europe and never seen in Scandinavia until now, were also found.

The research was conducted jointly by the University of Oslo, as well as Bournemouth University, the Bergen University Museum and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Revealed the diversity of life in the ice age

The results obtained reveal the diversity of living creatures living in the region during the ice age and are of great importance in understanding the structure of the Arctic ecosystem at that time.

The study's lead author, Dr. Sam Walker from Bournemouth University, said the discovery provided a rare window into the effects of sudden temperature changes during the ice age on wildlife.

According to Walker, such discoveries reveal how sensitive living species, especially those adapted to cold climates, are to climate change.

Scientists emphasized that the bones found will help understand nature's responses to sudden climate changes in the past, and therefore could shed light on nature conservation efforts carried out today.

The results of the research were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), which is highly respected in the scientific world.