Scientists hailed the discovery as “truly spectacular” as they hope the find will help them know more about the life and times of early settlers who crossed from Asia to the North America thousands of years ago.
Researchers believe the toddler, named Xaasaa Cheege Ts’eniin, was buried 11,500 years ago by one of the earliest families in the Arctic of North America, Daily Mail reported.
The remains of the child, identified as a three-year-old based on its teeth, was also confirmed as those belonging to the second-youngest Ice Age child on the continent.
The name of the child means the “Upward Sun River Mouth Child”, which was chosen by local native community the Healy Lake Tribe and researchers hope to work out its sex through a DNA sample.
The burial site shows ancient residents of Alaska foraged for fish, birds and small mammals — as well as large game.
The area was found on the Upper Sun River, in the Tanana lowlands forest in central Alaska, and it includes remains of a seasonal house and stone tools used for cutting.
Scientists believe the house was occupied in summer, based on the bones from salmon and immature ground squirrels found there.
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