The MeatEater Podcast - Ep. 694: Did Clovis Hunters Kill All the Mammoths?

Release Date: April 21, 2025

In Episode 694 of The MeatEater Podcast, host Steve Rinella delves into one of the most intriguing and debated topics in North American archaeology: Did Clovis hunters drive the megafauna, such as mammoths, to extinction? Joined by esteemed guests Todd Surovel, Director of the George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Wyoming, and Spencer Pelton, the Wyoming State Archaeologist and Adjunct at the University of Wyoming, the episode explores the depths of the Clovis First hypothesis, the Overkill hypothesis, and alternative theories surrounding the peopling of the Americas.

1. Introduction to Clovis Culture

Steve Rinella opens the discussion by highlighting the significance of the Clovis culture, traditionally viewed as the first widespread human culture in North America, renowned for its distinctive fluted stone points used in hunting large game.

[28:07] Spencer Pelton: "Just stone tool technology at the most basic level. But I think it's also come to be associated with a lifeway, highly mobile use of really high quality raw materials. Seemingly a preference toward hunting large-bodied animals."

2. Experimental Archaeology: Testing Clovis Weaponry

The conversation shifts to George C. Frison's pioneering work in experimental archaeology, where he tested Clovis points on African elephants to assess their effectiveness as hunting tools.

[03:27] Todd Surovel: "Absolutely. He had no doubt. He's the only guy in recent time who's hit a Clovis weaponry."

Todd explains Frison's method of using Clovis points on ostensibly dead elephants in Zimbabwe, demonstrating their functionality in hunting.

3. The Overkill Hypothesis

Central to the episode is the Overkill hypothesis, which posits that early human hunters, equipped with advanced weaponry like Clovis points, were primarily responsible for the rapid extinction of numerous megafauna species.

[50:12] Todd Surovel: "I think there's a lot of really strong evidence for it."

Steve and Todd discuss the abundance of mammoth kill sites, noting that Clovis points are frequently found in association with mammoth remains, suggesting a targeted hunting strategy.

4. Archaeological Evidence and Debates

Despite the strong correlation between Clovis tools and mammoth remains, Rinella raises concerns about the absence of kill sites for other megafauna, questioning the breadth of the Overkill hypothesis.

[50:55] Todd Surovel: "We did a study comparing the density of mammoth kill sites in Clovis times to all other elephant kill sites from the rest of the world... It's actually a huge number given the amount of time and space we're talking about."

Spencer Pelton adds that the Clovis record is dominated by evidence of hunting large animals like mammoths and bison, while there is scant evidence for hunting other large species such as ground sloths or giant beavers.

[57:10] Todd Surovel: "The bigger the animal is, the less common they are in the landscape. When you see this focus on these large animals, it tells you they're really specializing in the predation of these large animals."

5. Alternative Migration Theories

The guests explore alternative theories to the traditional ice-free corridor migration model, particularly the coastal "Kelp Highway" hypothesis, which suggests that early humans migrated along the Pacific coast using boats and subsisting on marine resources.

[48:34] Brody: "What about during that same era as Clovis? What archeology is there at the same time as Clovis?"

[112:34] Spencer Pelton: "Spencer Pelton discusses the lack of archaeological evidence supporting extensive coastal migration during the Clovis period, emphasizing that the kelp highway remains more of a theoretical framework due to the scarcity of dated sites."

The debate intensifies as Spencer points out that obsidian sourcing studies reveal Clovis peoples utilized inland resources, contradicting the coastal migration narrative.

[118:09] Spencer Pelton: "The hypothesis was that if people were tied to coastal regions, then we should have coastal obsidian in these sites... but every single piece of obsidian used in these oldest sites in Alaska comes from interior sources."

6. Implications for Megafaunal Survival

Todd Surovel presents a compelling argument linking human population densities to megafaunal survival, proposing that only in regions with low human densities did large mammals like caribou and bison survive the Pleistocene extinctions.

[84:33] Spencer Pelton: "She's like, prestige. I thought that was great. Word choice."

[86:57] Steve Rinella: "So, you have these large mammals, cases of large mammal survival in environments where people simply couldn't reach sufficient densities to drive them to extinction."

7. Political and Cultural Dimensions

The episode doesn't shy away from addressing the political and cultural implications of the Overkill hypothesis, particularly its impact on Indigenous narratives regarding land ownership and historical presence.

[128:24] Spencer Pelton: "Just because something's human, universally human, doesn't make it, it doesn't abdicate us for moral responsibility to deal with it."

[131:38] Spencer Pelton: "Now that 13,000 years is no longer old enough. You have to keep pushing it back a little further."

8. Conclusion and Future Directions

As the discussion wraps up, Rinella emphasizes the need for continued archaeological research to uncover more definitive evidence about early human activities and their ecological impacts.

[135:25] Steve Rinella: "So how do people find your work? Like, what should they check out? I have one of your books upstairs, the Badger."

[136:03] Todd Surovel: "Search the Frison Institute. We're happy to take donations. Every dollar goes to research."

The guests advocate for supporting research institutions dedicated to unraveling the complexities of Clovis-era archaeology and understanding the true extent of human influence on prehistoric ecosystems.

Key Takeaways:

• Clovis First has been the dominant theory explaining the peopling of the Americas, emphasizing a migration through an ice-free corridor and an associated extinction of megafauna via the Overkill hypothesis.

• Overkill Hypothesis is supported by the prevalence of mammoth kill sites with Clovis points but faces criticism due to the lack of evidence for the hunting of other large species.

• Alternative Theories, such as the Kelp Highway, propose coastal migrations, but lack substantial archaeological evidence to support widespread early coastal settlements.

• Human Population Density plays a crucial role in megafaunal survival, with large mammals persisting in regions with low human presence.

• The debate intertwines scientific evidence with cultural and political narratives, highlighting the importance of objective research in understanding our past.

For those interested in exploring this topic further, Todd Surovel directs the George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (frisoninstitute.com), while Spencer Pelton shares his research and insights through a ResearchGate profile and his Substack newsletter, Social Stigma.

This summary captures the essence of Episode 694, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't tuned in, while maintaining the depth and nuances of the conversation.