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

A new study published in Current Biology reveals that prehistoric people in Eurasia and North America predominantly hunted female woolly mammoths. Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from 521 mammoths, including bones from 11 human accumulation sites in Europe and Siberia, finding that approximately 70% of hunted mammoths were female, contrasting with natural populations where males were more prevalent.

• One hypothesis suggests that female-led mammoth herds, similar to modern elephants, had more predictable movement patterns, making them easier targets for nomadic hunter-gatherers.
• Another possibility is that female mammoths, being generally smaller than males, were easier to kill.
• The study's lead author, Hannah Moots, noted, "One possibility is that if wooly mammoths lived in female-led herds like modern elephants, those groups may have moved across the landscape in more predictable, seasonal ways."
• The largest site examined, Kraków Spadzista in Poland, dates back 25,000-30,000 years and contains over 100 mammoth remains, stone tools, and evidence of butchery.