Scientists uncover direct evidence of Ice Age megafauna hunting in the Carolinas

Ancient stone tools recovered from North Carolina and South Carolina are reshaping archaeologists' understanding of Ice Age hunting in eastern North America. While examining 120 Paleoamerican stone tools, scientists found clear signs of a link between people and extinct megafauna in the form of protein residues and use-wear traces preserved on the tools thousands of years ago.These findings, reported in Scientific Reports in 2023, stand out because eastern North America rarely preserves the large animal bone deposits that usually help archaeologists reconstruct prehistoric hunting practices. Instead, the evidence survived on the tools themselves.Traces preserved on stoneReportedly, Christopher R. Moore and colleagues performed an immunological analysis of Clovis points, scrapers, and other tools associated with the Paleoamerican culture using crossover immunoelectrophoresis to detect traces of protein residues left by the materials. Additionally, microwear analysis was conducted to understand how the artifacts were used by ancient people.In particular, the scientists noted the presence of protein residue of extinct megafauna, including proboscideans such as mammoths or mastodons, as well as Equidae and Bovidae families, which may include ancient bison species. The residues were discovered on several tools found in different parts of Carolina. Moreover, according to the researchers, wear analysis suggested that those tools had been used for shooting arrows, butchery, and hide scraping. This finding showed that tools were actively used for hunting extinct mammals and processing their carcasses, rather than acquiring residues at some later time.Importantly, the authors did not claim that every tool came from a single hunting event or kill site. Rather, they considered their findings as evidence that Paleoamericans hunted extinct megafauna.Why has eastern archaeology struggledIn the authors' words, the lack of animal remains has made it difficult to demonstrate a direct connection between Paleoamerican stone tools and the extinct fauna. The question of Clovis hunting in the eastern regions has been an issue that has had to be discussed using tool morphology and settlement pattern evidence for several decades now.Now, the situation is different because, besides theoretical considerations, archaeologists have preserved traces of residues on artifacts used by early hunter-gatherers.In this paper, the authors state that their discoveries constitute the first published immunological evidence for proboscidean and horse residues on Paleoamerican stone tools in the eastern United States. A broader debate about Clovis huntersConclusions drawn from this study can contribute to the more extensive discussion within archaeology concerning the function of Clovis technology. Clovis points, recognised by their distinctive fluted design, have frequently been linked to the hunting of large animals. However, there is ongoing debate among archaeologists as to whether these points were dedicated megafaunal hunting implements or more generalised tool forms. Although many questions remain unanswered, the Carolina results reinforce the claim that at least some Clovis and early Paleoamerican cultures engaged in large-game hunting or processing in the southeastern United States during the Pleistocene.Researchers also noted differences across time periods. While residues linked to horses and bovids appeared on some later tools, proboscidean traces were associated mainly with Clovis and possible early Paleoamerican contexts.More than a local discoveryMoreover, the findings go well beyond just adding to the knowledge about the early history of the region, which is known for many discoveries of fluted points. Residue analysis is a perfect example of how the use of modern technology makes it possible to find information in areas where bones and other organic materials decay. Modern techniques based on microscopic wear traces and protein analysis will become essential tools in archaeology, especially when working with areas of poor bone preservation.Rather than overturning everything previously believed about Ice Age hunting, the Carolina discoveries offer a more direct and measurable picture of how early people may have used their tools. The evidence suggests that at least some of those stone points and scrapers were not simply symbolic objects or multipurpose implements. Therefore, it appears that those stone tools were not only symbols or multifunctional devices.These findings offer hope of solving one of the most complex riddles about the early inhabitants of North America.