The First International Mammoth Conference (1st IMC) was held in 1995 in Saint Petersburg. The meeting was a lively forum where scientists from all over the world exchanged their knowledge about one of the most intriguing fossil animals, the mammoth. Just like dinosaurs, mammoths are extinct, large, almost mythical creatures of the past. And they are right in the center of studies by many paleontologists. Mammoths and the Mammoth Fauna: Studies of an Extinct Ecosystem is a reflection of the scientific achievements presented during the 1st IMC. It also shows the international character of mammoth studies. The publication of this volume means a stimulus for scientists and interested laymen alike. The bottom line is that mammoths were part of an intricate ecosystem. Their extinction under the very eyes of mankind holds important clues to our future.