Reindeer Fur: A Vital Resource for Ancient Humans During the Last Glacial Maximum
Reindeer fur would have helped ancient humans endure the climate of the last glacial maximum
Esteban De Armas/Shutterstock
An open-air site in Austria occupied by humans during the coldest part of the last glacial period may have been dedicated to hunting reindeer for pelts, showing how people adapted to extreme temperatures in Europe.
The site, known as Kammern-Grubgraben, was a bustling hub from approximately 24,000 to 20,000 years ago, boasting an impressive array of tools, ornaments, artifacts, and stone structures. This period coincided with the most recent glacial maximum, a time of harsh and unforgiving climate conditions. At this juncture, the mean annual temperature…
