Prehistoric people in Eurasia, North America specifically hunted female mammoths, new study shows

Prehistoric people in Eurasia, particularly in North America, primarily hunted female mammoths, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed genetic data from mammoth bones found at 11 sites across Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Russia. The findings reveal that nearly 70% of the mammoths whose remains were examined were female, while only 30% were male. This contrasts sharply with the 66% male-to-female ratio observed in mammoth bones recovered from natural environments. The study, which included ancient DNA from 521 mammoths over the last 50,000 years, focused on comparing the sex distribution of mammoths found in human-modified landscapes versus those in natural settings. Among the 100 mammoths from bone accumulation sites, the majority were female, suggesting a deliberate preference among early humans. These sites, including one in Siberia and several in Central and Eastern Europe, contained not only bones but also stone tools and signs of butchery, indicating organized hunting practices. Scientists believe that the tendency to hunt female mammoths may stem from behavioral patterns similar to those of modern elephants. Female-led herds, composed of adult females and young of both genders, might have exhibited more predictable movement patterns compared to solitary male mammoths. This consistency could have made it easier for prehistoric hunters to track and target these groups. "Female elephant herds have relatively stable home ranges and movement patterns, whereas adult males are more solitary and often roam much more widely," explained Hannah Moots, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Palaeogenetics. Additionally, the physical characteristics of female mammoths may have influenced hunting decisions. Adult males can weigh up to six tons and stand around 11 feet tall, making them formidable targets. In contrast, females are smaller, about four tons and roughly nine and a half feet tall. This size difference could have made females easier to approach and bring down, especially in group settings where younger individuals might have been less able to escape. The people who lived in these regions were nomadic hunter-gatherers, relying on both plant resources and game. Their diet included a variety of Ice Age mammals such as wooly rhinoceroses, caribou, bison and deer. Evidence from some accumulation sites suggests that hunters used sophisticated techniques, including the embedding of projectile points in mammoth bones. These artifacts indicate that early humans employed methods to incapacitate or kill their prey effectively. Hunting strategies likely involved the use of the environment to their advantage. Hunters may have driven mammoths toward natural barriers such as cliffs or swamps, where the animals could be immobilized before being attacked. "I could imagine them using landscape features such as mud or bogs to help immobilize the animals before attacking them using spears, darts or arrows," said David Díez-del-Molino, another co-senior author of the study. One of the largest known mammoth-hunting sites, Kraków Spadzista in southern Poland, dates back approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years. This site includes the remains of over 100 mammoths along with stone tools and evidence of butchering activities. Such locations highlight the scale and organization of mammoth hunts, underscoring the significance of these animals in the lives of prehistoric communities. Mammoths disappeared from mainland North America and Eurasia around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, marking the end of an era for these ancient creatures and the cultures that depended on them.