Mammoth bones apparently slaughtered by humans discovered in New Mexico

The recently discovered pile of mammoth bones in New Mexico.

Mammoth and Calf Bones Newly Found in New Mexico Present Indicators of Butchery, Thrilling Discovery this might assist refine estimates of when people first populated the Americas.

The specimens Date between 36,250 and 38,900 years in the past, in accordance with carbon courting evaluation of bone collagen. The paleontological workforce discovered blunt fractures on the bones. What seem like flake knives produced from mammoth bones and proof of a managed fireplace have been additionally at the positioning – indicators that people have been concerned in the disappearance of mammoths. The workforce’s analysis seemed final month in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

“It isn’t a charismatic web site with a pleasant skeleton laid out on its facet,” Timothy Rowe, a paleontologist on the College of Texas at Austin and lead writer of the current paper, stated in a UT Launch. “Every thing is screwed up. However that is the story. »

At first look, Rowe thought the pile of bones seemed like a butchery web site. However with out complicated stone instruments close by– a telltale signal of humanity – he could not make sure.

Three mammoth ribs from the site, showing (from top to bottom) blunt trauma, puncture wound, and evidence of cutting.