Scientists have made a fascinating discovery that is rewriting our understanding of the early survival of the Americas. For the first time, direct evidence shows that ancient Americans, particularly the Clovis people, relied primarily on mammoths and other large animals for food. This new information about the diet of these early humans not only shows how they spread across the Americas, but also sheds light on the extinction of large Ice Age animals.

Who were Clovis’ men?

Clovis people arrived in North America about 13,000 years ago, probably via the Bering land bridge. Known for their unique fluted bullet points, these creatures were not only hunters but also expert toolmakers, using scrapers and knives for a variety of survival needs. The Clovis people, once considered the first inhabitants of the Americas, have now been given a different status with the discovery of pre-Clovis sites.

The decline of the Clovis culture, which is also associated with the extinction of megafauna, suggests environmental change and overhunting. However, their influence continued and influenced later cultures; their tools and strategies formed the basis of the later Paleoindian population of North America.

Diet of Ancient Americans

A study recently published in the journal Science DevelopmentsHe used stable isotope analysis to understand the diet of the Clovis mother found in a 13,000-year-old tomb in Montana. Before that, researchers made inferences about prehistoric diets by studying tools or animal remains. Now, for the first time, scientists have been able to directly analyze the food consumed by Clovis people, providing a more comprehensive picture of their lives.

Emerging evidence strongly suggests that Clovis people specialized in hunting large mammals rather than focusing on smaller animals or plants. These ancient people lived in North America while mammoths roamed northern Asia and the Americas. Numerous and migratory, mammoths became a stable source of fat and protein for humans.

Role of mammoths in the Clovis expansion

“Focusing on mammoths helps explain how Clovis people spread across North America and South America in just a few hundred years,” said co-author James Chatters of McMaster University.

This dependence on mammoths allowed ancient Americans to expand rapidly because they did not have to depend on local, unpredictable food sources.

Clovis technology and mammoths

The study also found an interesting connection between Clovis technology and their diet.

“What strikes me is that this confirms a lot of data from other sites. For example, animal parts left at Clovis sites are dominated by megafauna, and there are large projectile tips attached to darts, which are effective standoff weapons,” said Ben Potter, co-author and professor of archeology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. (UAF).

This hunting technology was critical to the Clovis way of life, allowing them to shoot large, dangerous animals such as mammoths from a safe distance.

“Mammoth hunting enabled a flexible lifestyle. This allowed Clovis people to move to new areas without relying on smaller, localized game that could vary greatly from one area to another,” Potter said.

The mammoth diet of ancient Americans

The research team was able to estimate Clovis’ diet by analyzing isotope data from previous studies on the 18-month-old Clovis child Anzic-1. Nutritional adjustments helped researchers model the mother’s diet.

“Isotopes provide a chemical fingerprint of a consumer’s diet and can be compared to those found in potential dietary products to estimate the proportional contribution of different dietary products,” said Matt Wooller, director of UAF’s Alaska Stable Isotope Facility.

Isotopic fingerprinting showed that mammoths made up about 40% of Clovis’s mother’s diet, with other large animals such as deer and bison making up the rest. Surprisingly, small mammals contributed little to its diet. When researchers compared this species’ diet to that of other carnivores of the same period, including American lions and wolves, they found that it was most similar to the scimitar cat. Homotherium serum ), a dedicated mammoth hunter.

Implications for the End of the Ice Age

These findings also contribute to understanding the extinction of large animals during the Ice Age. Environmental changes have reduced the megafauna’s habitat, which may have increased their vulnerability to human hunters.

“If the climate changes in a way that reduces suitable habitat for some of these megafauna, that potentially makes them more susceptible to human predation. These humans were very effective hunters,” Potter noted.

“With the combination of a highly sophisticated hunting culture with skills honed over 10,000 years in Eurasia, you end up with pure, environmentally focused megafauna populations,” Chatters said.

This combination of experienced hunters and defenseless prey could hasten the extinction of animals such as mammoths.

Collaboration with indigenous communities

Another important aspect of this study of ancient Americans’ dependence on mammoths is the emphasis on ethical cooperation with indigenous communities. Potter and Chatters actively worked with Native Americans in Montana and Wyoming to address their concerns and interests.

“It is important and ethical to consult with indigenous peoples on matters related to their heritage,” the researchers said.

The team worked closely with Shane Doyle, executive director of Yellowstone Peoples, which advises tribal representatives in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.

“The response was appreciative and engaged,” Doyle said.

Adaptability and hunting skills of early Americans

“I congratulate the team on their astonishing discovery of the Clovis period indigenous lifestyle and thank them for the care and respect they showed the tribes during their research,” Doyle said. “This study changes our understanding of how indigenous people in the Americas evolved by hunting the mammoth, one of the most dangerous and dominant animals of the time.”

This study not only highlights the incredible adaptability and hunting skills of the Clovis people, but also underscores the importance of consulting indigenous communities in research involving their ancestors. It enriches our understanding of how early humans shaped the environment and their role in the extinction of some of the Ice Age’s most iconic creatures. The study was published in the journal Science Developments.