Approximately 13,000 years ago, the Clovis people, among North America’s earliest inhabitants, relied heavily on mammoth meat as a primary food source. This conclusion stems from a chemical analysis of the bones of an 18-month-old child, known as Anzick-1, whose remains were discovered in present-day Montana. The study, published in Science Advances, indicates that the child’s mother consumed a diet predominantly composed of mammoth meat, with minimal intake of smaller animals and plant-based foods.
The research team employed stable isotope analysis to examine the carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition in the child’s bones. Since Anzick-1 was still nursing at the time of death, these isotopic signatures reflect the mother’s dietary habits. The findings reveal that her diet was primarily based on large herbivores, particularly mammoths, aligning closely with the dietary patterns of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, a known mammoth predator.
These insights provide direct evidence that the Clovis people were adept at hunting large megafauna, especially the Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi). This hunting strategy likely facilitated their rapid expansion across North and South America, as they followed the migratory patterns of these massive animals. The study’s co-lead author, archaeologist James Chatters from McMaster University, suggests that this focus on mammoth hunting enabled the Clovis culture to spread swiftly across vast territories.
The Clovis culture, dating from approximately 13,000 to 12,700 years ago, was once considered the earliest human presence in North America. However, recent research indicates that humans may have arrived on the continent as early as 23,000 years ago. Despite this, the Clovis people are recognized for their distinctive stone tools and hunting practices, which prominently featured the pursuit of large game like mammoths.
The extinction of mammoths around 4,000 years ago remains a subject of scientific debate. Factors such as climate change, habitat loss, and overhunting by humans are considered potential contributors to their decline. Genetic analyses suggest that dwindling populations and reduced genetic diversity may have made mammoths more vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities.
In summary, the Clovis people’s reliance on mammoth meat underscores their sophisticated hunting capabilities and adaptability. Their subsistence strategies not only supported their survival but also played a crucial role in their rapid
