Mammoth featured heavily in Western Clovis diet

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Isotope Geochemistry
• Archaeology

Background:

• The diet of ancient Native American ancestors (Clovis) is debated, with theories ranging from specialized megafauna hunting to generalist foraging.
• Previous evidence relied on indirect data like toolkits and associated fauna, or speculative models and experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To directly infer the maternal protein diet of the Anzick child, the only known Clovis individual.
• To test hypotheses regarding Clovis subsistence strategies and their role in the peopling of the Americas.

Main Methods:

• Stable isotope analysis of the Anzick-1 remains.
• Comparison of isotopic signatures with regional fauna from the relevant period.

Main Results:

• Mammoth was the primary protein source for the Anzick child's mother, followed by elk and bison/camel.
• The contribution of small mammals to the diet was minimal.
• The maternal diet's isotopic signature aligns with that of mammoth specialists, such as the scimitar cat.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the model of Clovis people as megafaunal specialists.
• This specialization, coupled with advanced technology and mobility, likely facilitated their rapid expansion across the Americas south of the ice sheets.