Why Researchers Ate a Stew Made from 50,000-Year-Old Bison Meat - Scientists Ate a 50,000-Year-Old Bison—and Lived to Tell the Tale

In 1979, gold prospectors in Alaska uncovered an astonishing find: a near-perfectly preserved bison mummy, later named Blue Babe. The 50,000-year-old creature, the only known specimen of a Pleistocene bison, had been frozen in permafrost for millennia. Five years after its discovery, a group of scientists did something unusual—they cooked and ate a piece of its ancient flesh.

The story of Blue Babe began in the Alaskan wilderness, where it once roamed alongside mammoths in a landscape untouched by humans. Its remarkably intact remains, complete with skin, fur, and even traces of muscle, were found by miners near Fairbanks. Researchers later identified marks on its neck, suggesting the animal had died in a lion attack before being buried in ice.

In 1984, paleontologist Dale Guthrie hosted an extraordinary dinner at his home. He and his colleagues prepared a stew using a small portion of Blue Babe's preserved meat, simmered with vegetables and spices. The dish reportedly carried a 'distinctly Pleistocene aroma' but was not unpleasant to eat. Those who tried it compared the texture to beef jerky—tough yet edible.

None of the participants fell ill after consuming the prehistoric meal. The experiment drew inspiration from earlier Russian expeditions, where scientists had sampled frozen Pleistocene animals. However, Blue Babe remains the only known case of a Pleistocene bison ever discovered—or tasted.

The unusual feast marked a rare moment where science and curiosity intersected. Blue Babe's preserved remains provided both a glimpse into Alaska's ancient past and, briefly, a taste of it. The experiment left no lasting health effects on those involved, though it remains a one-of-a-kind event in paleontological history.