(MENAFN) More than 40 species that once roamed Norway during the last Ice Age have been identified by scientists, marking a major breakthrough in Arctic research, media reported Tuesday.

The rare discovery was made in the Arne Qvam cave near Narvik, a northern town in Norway, where researchers unearthed fossils dating back approximately 75,000 years—including several species that are now extinct.

Calling it a “unique discovery,” scientists say the findings shed new light on the fauna that inhabited the region during the Ice Age, offering insights previously unknown to science.

Launched in 2021, the research project involved detailed analysis of ancient bones and DNA. Among the species identified were the Arctic lemming, arctic fox, cod, walrus, bowhead whale, puffin, and ptarmigan.

One of the standout revelations was the discovery of the Arctic lemming, a species long extinct in Scandinavia—now found in Norway for the first time.

Adding further significance to the find, researchers also uncovered what they believe to be the third-oldest polar bear fossil ever recorded.

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