Searching out mammoth remains in permafrost (Taimyr, Siberia) using ground-penetrating radar

A field survey organized in the framework of the Mammuthus project was recently carried out in the Taimyr Peninsula (Siberia, 26 April - 14 May 2001) in order to extract a mammoth carcass from the permafrost. The ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique was firstly used to accurately locate the bones and tissue of the carcass. A 1 m(3) block containing such remains was then extracted and transported to Khatanga City, where it is currently stored in a cave at a temperature of -12 degreesC awaiting to be studied by paleontologists. The second aspect of GPR application consisted in sounding the block in order to define the detailed distribution of the bones and tissue, valuable information for researchers in charge of excavation work.