Scientists studied DNA of 500 mammoths and found a strange pattern

An international team of researchers analyzed the DNA of 521 woolly mammoths and found that at Ice Age human sites, female remains predominate, while solitary remains in the wild belong mostly to males. Scientists propose hypotheses to explain this pattern and plan further research.

An international team of researchers analyzed the genetic material of woolly mammoths and discovered an unusual trend: at Ice Age human sites, female remains significantly predominate. In the course of the work, scientists studied the DNA of 521 woolly mammoths extracted from teeth, bones, and tusk fragments. For 448 samples, the sex was determined for the first time. Comparison of two categories of finds showed a contrast: solitary remains of animals that died in the wild belonged mainly to males, while in places of mass bone accumulations at ancient sites aged 20 to 30 thousand years, females predominated. This pattern is observed at sites in Europe and Asia. Specialists offer several explanations: females moved in stable family groups along constant routes, which allowed people to predict their appearance and set ambushes. In addition, females were smaller than adult males, which might seem like less risky prey, although collective protection of calves made herds dangerous. The fact of active hunting is confirmed by finds of stone spear points in bones and traces of carcass processing. Researchers plan to determine the exact age of the animals, detail migration routes, and expand the DNA sample to understand whether the choice of females was a deliberate strategy or a natural behavioral feature.

Scientists studied DNA of 500 mammoths and found a strange pattern