Russia's Defence Minister has reportedly suggested cloning ancient warriors who've been buried in a remote part of the sprawling country for 3000 years.
Sergey Shoigu made the comments during a board meeting of the Russian Geographical Society earlier this week, the Siberian Times reported.
The warriors are buried in the Tunnug burial mound in the Valley of the Kings, Tuva, just north of Mongolia. Excavations at the remote site started in 2018 with a blessing from a shaman to prevent angering the fallen Scythian warriors' spirits.
"Very keen to find organic matter," Shoigu said. "I think you understand what might follow - if not for Dolly the sheep, it would be possible to make something out of it.
Dolly the sheep was the first-ever mammal cloned from an adult cell, in 1996. She was named after singer Dolly Parton.
It's expected organic matter will be found, with the bodies buried in permafrost most of the past few thousand years.
"We have conducted several expeditions there already, it is a big international expedition," said Shoigu.
"A lot of things have been confirmed, but a lot remains to be done."
Shoigu will be keen for as many troops as possible, as tensions run high with neighbour and foe Ukraine.