I study the interactions between humans and mammoths in the Swabian Jura between 60,000 and 30,000 years ago. To understand how humans and mammoths influenced each other, both ecologically (diet, mobility, environment) and culturally (use of bones and ivory for tools, ornaments, and art). I’m particularly interested in the isotopic aspect of this project. Through isotopic analyses, we can explore the ecological niche, diet, and mobility of mammoths. By comparing the isotopic signatures of several animal species, it becomes possible to understand how they interacted with their environments and with each other. This approach helps us reconstruct the structure and dynamics of past ecosystems and better understand the factors that led to the decline of mammoths, whether it was mainly due to climate change, human hunting pressure, or a combination of both. It also provides valuable clues about how humans used and transported mammoth remains.
