Climate change reveals secrets of our ancestors hidden in the ice

Many of the ancient artefacts exposed by melting ice patches around the world relate to large-animal hunting. In summer, reindeer (caribou), bison, mountain sheep and other large animals would congregate on ice patches to avoid heat and biting insects, and autumn melt would support late-season grass growth, making the patches into high-elevation oases. Hunters followed the herds, as shown by lost and discarded hunting tools, along with everyday items, such as shoes, clothing and baskets, that accumulated and were preserved in the ice patches.