Mammoths: A Staple in Early American Diet and Culture

New research suggests that the Clovis people, who migrated to North America around 13,000 years ago, heavily relied on mammoths for food and clothing, which may have contributed to the mammoths' extinction. The study, using isotopic analysis, found that mammoth meat constituted a significant portion of the Clovis diet, challenging previous assumptions of a more diverse diet. The findings also highlight the importance of consulting Indigenous communities in archaeological research, as demonstrated by the researchers' collaboration with tribes in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.