Blue Babe was a bison with two lifetimes . The first pass 50,000 year ago when the steppe bison ( Bison priscus ) range Alaska before meet its end in the jaws of a lion . The second began when its mummified remains were recall from the Interior permafrost where it had remained quick-frozen in time since the Ice Age .
The remarkably well - preserved bison was first attain by atomic number 79 miners in1979and handed over to scientist as a uncommon find , being the only know example of a Pleistocene bison reclaimed from the permafrost . That articulate , it did n’t turn back gastronomically curious research worker from whipping up a batch of Pleistocene - era bison neck opening stew .
“Strong Pleistocene Aroma”
The unusual dinner party company would encounter out at the Alaska place of palaeontologist Dale Guthrie who was instrumental in the recovery of Blue Babe from the environs . Initial analyses of the bison ’s collagen appeared to point the remains were around 36,000 years old , but more modern investigating vary this to 50,000 twelvemonth .
Blue Babe ’s quick transition into aPleistocenepopsicle after its decease meant that its musculus tissue paper was preserved comparably to that of beef jerky with fat and bone meat to bang . With so much on offering , the inquiry squad resolve to follow in the step of Russian scientist who had occur before them in introducing a little bit of the findings into an evening meal .
“ To climax and fete Eirik Granqvist ’s [ the taxidermist ] work with Blue Babe , we had a bison stew dinner for him and for Bjorn Kurten , who was giving a guest lecture … ”wrote Guthrieof the event . “ A small part of the mummy ’s cervix was diced and simmered in a commode of origin and vegetables . ”
“ We had Blue Babe for dinner . The meat was well aged but still a little tough , and it gave the fret a unattackable Pleistocene aroma , but nobody there would have dared miss it . ”
Neck Stew
As for why they opt for stew , “ Making neck steak did n’t sound like a very ripe approximation , ” Guthrie toldAtlas Obscura . “ But you experience , what we could do is put a mass of veg and spices , and it would n’t be too bad . ”
A bit of culinary genius may have rescued the relish , but nothing could be done to animate the content of Blue Babe ’s abdominal cavity , which had plainly spoiled before the animal first freeze all those tens of thousands of class ago . Evidence of predation by Panthera leo was incur in Blue Babe ’s neck where tooth fragment remained , but where they ’d trimmed the bison ’s neck musculature meant the tissue here freeze very apace and so – even 50,000 years afterwards – when it thawed it was quite fresh .
“ When it dissolve it gave off an unmistakable beef smell , not unpleasantly mixed with a faint flavor of the earth in which it was found , with a touch of mushroom cloud , ” Guthrie write . “ About a 12 of us gathered … on April 6 , 1984 , to partake ofBison priscusstew . ”
And in showcase you ’re wondering how their constitution do after dine on 50,000 - year - honest-to-goodness heart , it seems they did just hunky-dory .
“ The taste was delicious , and none of us suffered any sick burden from the meal . ”
[ H / T : Grunge ]
