Would you eat a 36,000 year old steak?
In 1979 a gold miner discovered a mummified steppe bison in Alaska.
As the body was stained blue by iron phosphate deposits it was given the name Blue Babe – after Paul Bunyan’s mythical giant ox that permanently turned blue when he was buried to the horns in a blizzard.
The steppe bison or steppe wisent is an extinct species of bison that was once found on the mammoth steppe where its range included Europe, Central Asia, Northern to Northeastern Asia and North America.
They were huge like modern bison – 7ft tall and 2,000 lbs.
The steppe bison survived until at least 3,500 BC in Alaska.
This specimen though was far older at 36,000 years. It had been wounded and still had a piece of lion’s tooth in it, suggesting how it had died. This species of American lion is also now extinct.
The research team that was preparing Blue Babe for permanent display in the University of Alaska Museum removed a portion of the mummy’s neck, stewed it, and dined on it to celebrate the accomplishment.
Apparently, the meat had a strong, earthy aroma, but it was delicious.
It was also remarked that though the meat was tough, it was edible.
Imagine that.
Eating an extinct bison that was killed by an extinct species of lion during the ice age.
Would you eat a mummified bison?
Love reading about these types of discoveries. Especially love a book I read where author gathered all the news articles & diaries, & such on all the discovered giant’s skilletons. Too bad we are prone to ignore what early pioneers of archeology discovered all because they were not as sophisticated, what they discovered does not fit our promoted paradigm that we intend to protect even when all solid proof says we need to rethink, & because they were not us & we believe ourselves better.
Clipping mentioned above were gathered by Vine Deloria, Jim Vieira, Ross Hamilton, & Fritz Zimmermann
Mummified bison… Well honestly if I ever had to chance to I would definitely try a piece. I will try everything once 🙂