The Upper Paleolithic site of Mezhirich, located in the Cherkasy region of central Ukraine, is home to four remarkable mammoth bone structures. From 12 to 24 m2They were complex using hundreds of mammoth bones and tusks. New analysis of small mammal remains recovered directly from archaeological layers shows that at least one of these structures was in use for up to 429 years, supporting the interpretation that it functioned as a dwelling.
MBS 4 during excavations of the Upper Paleolithic site of Mezhirich in the Cherkasy region, Ukraine. Image credit: Chu etc.., doi: 10.12688/openreseurope.20112.1.
“Open-air Upper Paleolithic sites in Eastern and Central Europe provide valuable information about human activity and biogeography during the Late Pleniglacial, a period of intense environmental change,” said Leiden University archaeologist Wei Chu and colleagues.
“Many of these sites, characterized by deep loess sedimentary sequences, contain abundant lithic, faunal and bone assemblages with embedded environmental indicators that help identify contemporaneous environmental factors.”
“It is noteworthy that in this region, several of these sites are in direct association with mammoth bone assemblages, which are considered to be some of the earliest evidence of built structures demonstrating spatial and seasonal organization.”
“Many of these structures have previously been interpreted as the remains of domestic buildings,” they added.
“However, since most of them were excavated several decades ago, the question has again arisen as to whether they functioned primarily as dwellings or whether they represent sites serving other functions, such as bone beds, food caches, burials, religious traditions or ritual middens, which may have served as early monuments.”
“The key site in this discussion is Mezhirich, located in the Middle Dnieper basin in Ukraine, known for its exceptional preservation of four mammoth bone structures (MBS 1-4) at depths of 12-24 m.2 in diameter.”
“These structures are associated with peripheral objects and artifacts, including artifact pits, hunting weapons, ivory and bone jewelry, as well as limited activity zones with the remains of butchered animals and workshops with dense cultural layers, each divided into economical settlements with mammoth bone structure as the focal point.”
In their new study, the authors focused on the dating and analysis of MBS 4, the only one of the structures at Mezhirich that contains well-tested artifacts in cultural layers from which direct ages can be obtained.
By dating the remains of small mammals instead of mammoth bones, they were able to establish a more precise age for MBS 4, placing it at approximately 18,248–17,764 years ago.
Importantly, new data shows that the structure was in use for as long as 429 years.
The data obtained indicate that Mezhirich was not a temporary camp used for several seasons, but a stable and long-term settlement.
The structure likely served as a home for several generations and was preserved and reoccupied over several centuries.
“MBS 4 belongs to the most severe phase of the last ice age,” the researchers said.
“Even more intriguing is that the duration of the occupation was short; perhaps one or more visits over the course of centuries.”
“This suggests that these bone-built shelters were a practical survival solution rather than permanent settlements.”
“Why does this matter? Beyond the sheer ingenuity of using mammoth bones as a building material, these discoveries are changing our understanding of human resilience and adaptation.”
“They show how communities thrived in extreme conditions, transforming the remains of giant animals into defensive architecture.”
“As dating methods become more precise, sites like Mezhirich continue to challenge our assumptions about prehistoric life,” they concluded.
“Far from being static, these societies were dynamic, resourceful and deeply connected to their environment—a lesson that still resonates today.”
teams paper was published in the magazine Open Research Europe.
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V. Zhou etc.. 2025. Revised radiocarbon chronology of mammoth bone structures and associated features at Mezhirich, Ukraine. Open Europe 5: 198; doi: 10.12688/openreseurope.20112.1
