The Clovis and the Mammoth: A Rewritten History of the Ice Age
A new study published in Science Advances has revolutionized our understanding of the Clovis, the first humans to inhabit North America. Once believed to have been versatile hunters with diverse prey, recent research reveals a surprisingly focused dietary strategy: mammoth hunting.
Meet the Clovis: Masters of Mammoth Hunting
The Clovis, a prehistoric people who lived around 13,000 years ago, traversed the vast landscapes of North America wielding their iconic spear points. Archaeologists once believed their diet was more varied, incorporating smaller game and plants. However, a closer look at the remains of a Clovis child, named Anzick-1, buried in Montana, paints a different picture.
Isotopic analysis, a scientific technique analyzing the chemical signatures in remains to decipher diet, revealed that Anzick-1’s mother was largely sustained by mammoth meat. This finding suggests the Clovis, far from being opportunistic omnivores, were highly specialized hunters, experts in the pursuit of these enormous creatures.
