A revised radiocarbon chronology for the mammoth bone structures and associated features at Mezhyrich, Ukraine

Mammoth Bone Structures are a distinct archaeological phenomenon typically ascribed to the Late Pleistocene in East-Central Europe though their chronology and use remain debated. By reviewing the history of research and excavation at the Mezhyrich site, this article presents new ¹⁴C results from Mezhyrich (Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine), revising the chronology of an Upper Palaeolithic Mammoth Bone Structure. Using meso-mammal remains from cultural layers, the results provide a more constrained timeline than previous models based on mammoth bones. The findings date Mammoth Bone Structure 4 and its context to c. 18,248–17,764 years cal BP with a site duration lasting between 0–429 years. This shorter chronology is consistent with a single occupation model but cannot exclude repeated occupation within maximally a few centuries at around 18 ka cal BP contributing to the hypothesis that the structure served as a dwelling, offering insights into Late Upper Palaeolithic life patterns in Eastern Europe.

Here we present new radiocarbon dates for a mammoth bone structure at Mezhyrich, Ukraine, refining its timeline. By dating small mammal remains instead of mammoth bones, we establish a more precise age of around 18,248–17,764 years ago. The structure appears to have been used for up to 429 years, supporting the idea that it served as a dwelling. These findings help us better understand how people lived in Eastern Europe during the Late Upper Paleolithic.