The earliest Native Americans perfected megafauna hunting strategies that sustained them from Alaska to South America, according to a sweeping analysis of 50 archaeological sites. This specialized diet shaped early human migration patterns.

Researchers analyzed animal bones at 50 sites spanning 14,000 years

Megafauna (animals over 100 lbs) comprised 51-95% of early diets

Hunting strategies remained consistent across 8,000 miles

Shows how humans can rapidly specialize in new environments

At one Alaskan site, 95% of recovered bones came from just two species: steppe bison and wapiti (elk).

First Americans Were Elite Megafauna Hunters Across Two Continents, 50-Site Study Reveals