Anthropologists from Mexico’s National Insтιтute of Anthropology and History say they have discovered two hunting pits dating back more than 10,000 years. They were used by prehistoric humans to trap mammoths, a now extinct giant beast.

The two pits were found during excavations in the Tultepec area, north of Mexico City. They are believed to be the first mammoth traps ever discovered in the world. They are about 1.70 meters deep and nearly 23 meters in diameter.

In the pits, scientists collected more than 800 bone fragments belonging to at least 14 woolly mammoths.

Woolly mammoths roamed the Earth tens of thousands of years ago and survived the last ice age. Their fossils have been found on every continent except Australia. Around 10,000 years ago, their numbers began to decline until they became completely extinct.

Recent discoveries by Mexican scientists suggest that human hunting was partly to blame for the extinction of the mammoth species.

Analyzing the mammoth bones in the two pits, scientists found many signs of human-caused injuries.

It is speculated that prehistoric hunters threatened and chased away the mammoths that fell into the pits, before killing them with large stones or primitive axes. A mammoth could have provided an abundant supply of fur and meat for humans during harsh climates.

Inside the pits were also the bones of a species of animal belonging to the genus Glyptodon

Notably, inside the two pits were also discovered the bones of another species of animal belonging to the genus Glyptodon. This animal is believed to be the ancestor of the modern horse, with the appearance of a hybrid between a horse and a pangolin (armadilo). After examination, the bones of this monster were determined to be 13 thousand years old.

In 1970, the first mammoth skeleton was found in Mexico. Construction workers on the Mexico City subway accidentally discovered a complete mammoth skeleton while digging.

Many other archaeological sites related to mammoths have also been found in many places around the world, but no place has ever discovered an elephant trap created by prehistoric humans.