The discovery of mammoth remains at a 13,000-year-old burial site has provided new insights into how the Clovis people adapted to Ice Age conditions and their role in mammal extinction.
Clovis hunters were skilled at capturing massive creatures such as mammoths, which comprised 40% of their diet. They also consumed other large game like bison and elk. Analysis of isotopes found that a mother’s diet closely resembled that of a predator specializing in mammoth hunting. This suggests the Clovis people were highly specialized hunters.
The study challenges earlier assumptions about the diversity of their diet, which included smaller prey and plant-based foods. The findings also imply that the Clovis people’s hunting prowess may have contributed to the premature extinction of mammoths.
Researchers believe a combination of sophisticated hunting skills and changing climate conditions may have accelerated the disappearance of megafauna like mammoths. Collaboration with Indigenous tribes during the study helped ensure respectful engagement of local communities, enriching our understanding of the Clovis people’s lifestyles.
Source: https://indiandefencereview.com/mammoths-the-ultimate-source-of-food-and-clothing-for-early-americans-but-at-what-cost