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Study: Early Humans Hunted Megafauna, Fueling Extinctions

10/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A new study finds early humans in southern South America hunted megafauna, including giant sloths and armadillos.
Researchers examined 20 sites in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, dating 13,000–11,600 years ago.
At 15 sites, over 80% of bones came from megafauna, with diets then shifting toward smaller animals.
The findings suggest human predation contributed to megafaunal extinctions, not climate change alone.

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Story summary

A new study finds early humans in southern South America hunted megafauna, including giant sloths and armadillos.
Researchers examined 20 sites in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, dating 13,000–11,600 years ago.
At 15 sites, over 80% of bones came from megafauna, with diets then shifting toward smaller animals.
The findings suggest human predation contributed to megafaunal extinctions, not climate change alone.