What recent scientific analysis method has greatly aided understanding of the Coelodonta lineage divergence?

Ancient DNA (aDNA) sequencing.

Modern understanding of the complex evolutionary tree and geographic movements of the Woolly Rhinoceros has been significantly advanced by high-tech molecular biology. Specifically, the application of ancient DNA (aDNA) sequencing technology has proven instrumental. This technique allows researchers to extract and analyze genetic material preserved in fossil remains, including specimens from early European contexts. By mapping the mitogenomes and overall genetic structure across various time periods and geographical locations, scientists have been able to confirm evolutionary relationships, trace the colonization routes through Asia, and clarify the transition points between ancestral species, like the Steppe Rhino, and the definitive *C. antiquitatis*. This genetic evidence corroborates and refines historical understandings based solely on morphology and fossil distribution.