Naco Mammoth Kill Site facts for kids

The Naco Mammoth Kill Site is an important archaeological spot in southeast Arizona. It is located near the town of Naco, Arizona. This site helps us learn about ancient people and the huge animals they hunted long ago.

The site was first reported in September 1951. A local resident named Marc Navarrete told the Arizona State Museum about it. His father had found two special stone tools, called Clovis points, while digging up mammoth bones. These finds were in an area called Greenbush Draw.

In April 1952, a famous archaeologist named Emil Haury came to investigate. In just five days, Haury and his team uncovered the bones of a Columbian Mammoth. This huge animal had been killed by ancient hunters. They found at least eight Clovis points among its bones. This showed that humans had hunted the mammoth about 10,000 years ago. The Naco site was the very first place where scientists clearly found a Clovis mammoth kill site. This discovery was a big deal for understanding early human history in North America.

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  Emil Haury (right) at the Naco mammoth kill site in 1952.

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  A Clovis point found among mammoth bones at the Naco site in 1952.

Discovering Ancient Arizona

The discovery of the Naco site was quite exciting. It happened by chance when a local person found something amazing. This often happens in archaeology. Sometimes, big discoveries come from everyday activities.

How the Site Was Found

In 1951, a man was digging in Greenbush Draw. He was looking for fossil bones. Instead, he found something even more special. He found two sharp stone tools, known as Clovis points. These points were right next to the bones of a giant mammoth. His son, Marc Navarrete, knew these finds were important. He quickly told the Arizona State Museum. This led to the official excavation of the site.

The Work of Emil Haury

Emil Haury was a leading archaeologist at the time. He quickly organized a team to dig at the Naco site. Their goal was to carefully uncover everything. They wanted to learn how the mammoth died and if humans were involved. Haury's careful work showed that the mammoth had indeed been hunted. The Clovis points were clearly used to kill the animal. This was a major scientific breakthrough.

Meet the Columbian Mammoth

The animal found at Naco was a Columbian Mammoth. These were truly giant creatures. They lived during the Ice Age.

What Was a Columbian Mammoth?

Columbian Mammoths were huge relatives of today's elephants. They were even bigger than woolly mammoths. They could stand over 13 feet (4 meters) tall at the shoulder. They had long, curved tusks. These tusks could be up to 16 feet (5 meters) long! Columbian Mammoths lived in warmer, grassy areas. They roamed across North America.

Life During the Ice Age

About 10,000 years ago, the Earth was still in the last Ice Age. Large ice sheets covered much of North America. But in places like Arizona, the climate was different. It was cooler and wetter than today. This allowed for lush grasslands. These grasslands were perfect for huge plant-eaters like mammoths. Many other large animals also lived then. These included giant sloths and saber-toothed cats.

The Mysterious Clovis People

The people who hunted the Naco mammoth are called the Clovis people. They are famous for their unique stone tools.

Who Were the Clovis People?

The Clovis people were some of the earliest humans in North America. They lived about 13,000 to 10,000 years ago. They were skilled hunters and gatherers. They moved around a lot, following herds of animals. We know about them mostly from the special tools they left behind.

What are Clovis Points?

Clovis points are a type of spearhead. They are made from stone, like flint or chert. They are very distinctive. They have a groove, or "flute," running up the middle. This groove helped attach the point to a wooden spear shaft. Clovis points were very sharp and strong. They were perfect for hunting large animals. These points are found all over North America. They show how widespread the Clovis culture was.

Why the Naco Site is Important

The Naco Mammoth Kill Site is very special. It taught scientists a lot about ancient life.

A First of Its Kind

Before Naco, scientists knew about mammoths and Clovis points. But they hadn't found a clear link. The Naco site was the first place where Clovis points were found directly with mammoth bones. This proved that Clovis people hunted these giant animals. It showed how early humans survived in North America.

Learning About Ancient Hunting

The Naco site gives us clues about ancient hunting methods. Finding eight Clovis points with one mammoth suggests teamwork. Hunters likely worked together to bring down such a huge beast. This site helps us imagine what life was like for these early Americans. It shows their intelligence and skill.