A preliminary view of the coexistence of mammoth and early peoples in México

A progress report about human-mammoth interactions in México is provided based primarily on a literature search. More than 270 mammoth localities are known in México, but only 17 of them have shown some evidence of an association between early peoples and mammoth. However, that number is even less when each locality is assessed in detail, due to the lack of a supportable association or the loss of the actual specimens that precludes their analysis using current techniques. Only six localities have modified mammoth bone. Among them, the greatest potential for demonstrating such a relationship is at Santa Isabel Iztapa, Valsequillo, Villa de Guadalupe, and Tocuila. Establishing an analysis methodology for the materials from those, as well as new localities, is warranted to provide the basis for interpreting the human-mammoth relationship in México. Future research calls for detailed stratigraphic and radiometric control and an analytical protocol for bone analysis focused on taphonomy and biotechnology.