Researchers have discovered 700,000-year-old squirrel feces in the Klondike gold mining region of Canada’s Yukon Territory. The remarkably preserved waste was found in old, underground tunnels of the historic gold mine. Analysis of the environmental DNA contained within the feces is providing unprecedented insights into a previously unknown ancient ecosystem. Scientists believe the DNA reveals details about the plant and animal life that existed in the area during the Middle Pleistocene epoch. The findings suggest a surprisingly diverse boreal forest thrived in the region much earlier than previously thought. This discovery offers a unique window into the past, preserved by the permafrost conditions within the mine. The research team hopes further analysis will reveal even more about the ancient environment and its evolution.