New Study Reveals Early Human Settlements in Alaska Tracked Woolly Mammoth’s Movements
In a groundbreaking new study, researchers have discovered that early human settlements in what is now Alaska closely followed the movements of a female woolly mammoth named Elma. This revelation sheds light on the relationship between prehistoric giants and the first people to migrate across the Bering Land Bridge. The study suggests that humans established their seasonal hunting camps in areas where woolly mammoths were known to gather.
The research team, consisting of scientists from the United States and Canada, used a combination of tools including isotope analysis, an ancient tusk, and a map of archaeological sites in Alaska to establish the connection between humans and woolly mammoths. The tusk, belonging to Elma, was discovered in 2009 at the Swan Point archaeological site in central Alaska.
Lead author Audrey Rowe, a doctoral student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, explained that the research began after the arrival of a high-precision tool at the university’s Alaska Stable Isotope Facility. This tool allowed them to analyze strontium isotopes, which reveal details about an animal’s life. By analyzing the strontium levels in Elma’s tusks, the researchers were able to track her movements.
The study’s senior author, Matthew Wooller, used the same method to identify the movements of an adult male mammoth in a previous paper. Wooller is a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the director of the isotope facility. He suggested overlaying the locations of local archaeological sites on top of Elma’s movements, which revealed a significant overlap.
The researchers also analyzed data from radiocarbon and DNA analysis of two related juvenile mammoths found at Swan Point. This additional data provided a fuller picture of life 14,000 years ago. It showed that Elma was a young adult in good health and died in the same season as the seasonal hunting camp where her tusk was found.
The findings of this study have not only advanced our understanding of mammoth behavior but also provided insights into the interaction between humans and mammoths. Love Dalén, a professor of evolutionary genomics at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm, Sweden, commented on the study, stating that it significantly advances our understanding of mammoth behavior and provides interesting clues about the interaction between humans and mammoths.
The research has also challenged the traditional image of early humans as aggressive hunters. The lead researcher, Audrey Rowe, commissioned a natural history illustrator to create a digital image featuring woolly mammoths and humans. Instead of depicting humans as aggressive hunters, Rowe insisted on featuring a family to demonstrate that these early people spent a significant amount of time teaching their children how to survive.
Overall, this study has provided groundbreaking insights into the relationship between early humans and woolly mammoths in Alaska. By analyzing strontium isotopes and mapping Elma’s movements, researchers have uncovered evidence of human settlements closely following the movements of these prehistoric giants. This research not only expands our knowledge of prehistoric life but also challenges our perceptions of early human behavior.
