The mammoth has long been a symbol of prehistoric life, evoking images of humans and animals in a constant struggle for survival.
A new study now sheds light on just how crucial these giant creatures were to some of the earliest inhabitants of North America, the Clovis people, who roamed the continent around 13,000 years ago.
Chemical analysis of bones from an 18-month-old boy, discovered in Montana and known as Anzick-1, has revealed that mammoths made up a significant portion of the Clovis diet, according to Videnskab.
Using isotope testing, researchers determined that approximately 40% of the child’s diet consisted of mammoth meat. Since the boy was breastfed, this dietary insight came from analyzing the mother's nutrition.
Adapted to Environment
The Clovis people were big-game hunters who moved across vast territories in search of large prey. Mammoths, which migrated across North America and Asia, offered not just food but an opportunity to expand into new areas.
Elk and bison were also part of their diet, though mammoths played a central role.
James Chatters, an archaeologist at McMaster University and co-author of the study published in Science Advances, explained how hunting such large animals helped the Clovis spread rapidly across North and South America.
“Their focus on mammoths provided the resources they needed to thrive in challenging environments,” Chatters said.
The findings challenge previous theories suggesting that early humans relied equally on smaller animals and plants.
Instead, it appears the Clovis people specialized in hunting some of the most dominant and dangerous creatures of their time.
Shane Doyle, director of the nonprofit Yellowstone Peoples, emphasized the importance of understanding this relationship.
“This study helps us see how Indigenous peoples thrived by adapting to their environment and hunting one of the most formidable animals of their era,” he said.
Researchers also consulted with Indigenous communities in Montana and Wyoming as part of the project. Such collaboration, they noted, is essential in studying ancient remains ethically.
