Dr. David Gwynn

But using experimental conditions that as best we could replicated the conditions of hunting a mammoth in terms of thickness, the material that you're going to throw your spears into, and that sort of thing. These projectile points that they were using, these so-called Clovis points, Absolutely could bring down an animal. There's no question about it, right? These were weapons.

But using experimental conditions that as best we could replicated the conditions of hunting a mammoth in terms of thickness, the material that you're going to throw your spears into, and that sort of thing. These projectile points that they were using, these so-called Clovis points, Absolutely could bring down an animal. There's no question about it, right? These were weapons.

But using experimental conditions that as best we could replicated the conditions of hunting a mammoth in terms of thickness, the material that you're going to throw your spears into, and that sort of thing. These projectile points that they were using, these so-called Clovis points, Absolutely could bring down an animal. There's no question about it, right? These were weapons.

On the other hand, what we discovered was that they probably weren't all, they were described, they have been described as these quote unquote magnificent killing things, these magnificent killing tools. Turns out they weren't all that magnificent. When you think about, and we have data on this, when you think about the skin thickness of a woolly mammoth,

On the other hand, what we discovered was that they probably weren't all, they were described, they have been described as these quote unquote magnificent killing things, these magnificent killing tools. Turns out they weren't all that magnificent. When you think about, and we have data on this, when you think about the skin thickness of a woolly mammoth,

On the other hand, what we discovered was that they probably weren't all, they were described, they have been described as these quote unquote magnificent killing things, these magnificent killing tools. Turns out they weren't all that magnificent. When you think about, and we have data on this, when you think about the skin thickness of a woolly mammoth,

A spear shot into it has to get through all the hair. It's got to get through the hide. It's got to get through layers of subcutaneous fat. And what we discovered with the experimental stuff is that, well, penetrating distance isn't very good. These things can go in about maybe 18 centimeters. So not very far.

A spear shot into it has to get through all the hair. It's got to get through the hide. It's got to get through layers of subcutaneous fat. And what we discovered with the experimental stuff is that, well, penetrating distance isn't very good. These things can go in about maybe 18 centimeters. So not very far.

A spear shot into it has to get through all the hair. It's got to get through the hide. It's got to get through layers of subcutaneous fat. And what we discovered with the experimental stuff is that, well, penetrating distance isn't very good. These things can go in about maybe 18 centimeters. So not very far.

Well, all the vital organs of a mammoth are basically hidden behind a picket fence of large ribs, right? And... scapula, other large bones. And so these weapons were effective. There's no question about it. We know that they went after some of these mammals and they were successful, but they just weren't successful all that often.

Well, all the vital organs of a mammoth are basically hidden behind a picket fence of large ribs, right? And... scapula, other large bones. And so these weapons were effective. There's no question about it. We know that they went after some of these mammals and they were successful, but they just weren't successful all that often.

Well, all the vital organs of a mammoth are basically hidden behind a picket fence of large ribs, right? And... scapula, other large bones. And so these weapons were effective. There's no question about it. We know that they went after some of these mammals and they were successful, but they just weren't successful all that often.

And moreover, what we realized, when you look at the wear patterns on these tools, when you look at the breakage patterns on these tools, they're probably more like Swiss army knives rather than weapons made specifically for killing elephants. The stereotype of these things as being highly specialized weapons, it actually doesn't make a lot of sense.

And moreover, what we realized, when you look at the wear patterns on these tools, when you look at the breakage patterns on these tools, they're probably more like Swiss army knives rather than weapons made specifically for killing elephants. The stereotype of these things as being highly specialized weapons, it actually doesn't make a lot of sense.

And moreover, what we realized, when you look at the wear patterns on these tools, when you look at the breakage patterns on these tools, they're probably more like Swiss army knives rather than weapons made specifically for killing elephants. The stereotype of these things as being highly specialized weapons, it actually doesn't make a lot of sense.

If you're a highly mobile hunter-gatherer and you've got a limited amount of stuff that you can carry, wouldn't it be better to carry a tool that can be used for all manner of different tasks rather than a tool that's solely for the purpose of bringing down six-ton animals?

If you're a highly mobile hunter-gatherer and you've got a limited amount of stuff that you can carry, wouldn't it be better to carry a tool that can be used for all manner of different tasks rather than a tool that's solely for the purpose of bringing down six-ton animals?

If you're a highly mobile hunter-gatherer and you've got a limited amount of stuff that you can carry, wouldn't it be better to carry a tool that can be used for all manner of different tasks rather than a tool that's solely for the purpose of bringing down six-ton animals?

Because one of the things that we know from Bonner Day hunter-gatherers is that going after a really big game like that is actually a low probability of success activity. So more often, you're shooting a deer, you're prying open a turtle. And so if you've got that Swiss Army knife, you've got the tool that you need for all occasions and

Because one of the things that we know from Bonner Day hunter-gatherers is that going after a really big game like that is actually a low probability of success activity. So more often, you're shooting a deer, you're prying open a turtle. And so if you've got that Swiss Army knife, you've got the tool that you need for all occasions and