Early Hunting period

Mesoamerican history

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June 25, 2026

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The Early Hunting period in Mesoamerica, spanning up to 6500 BCE, saw nomadic peoples inhabiting regions of modern-day Mexico and Central America. These early inhabitants hunted large mammals like mammoths and mastodons using spears with finely crafted stone points. Archaeological evidence, such as obsidian blades found near Mexico City, suggests human presence as early as 21,000 BCE.1

The environment during this era was cooler and wetter, supporting grasslands and large game animals. Around 7000 BCE, global temperatures rose, leading to the retreat of glaciers and a significant change in the environment. This shift marked the end of the successful large-game hunting lifestyle for Mesoamericans, possibly contributing to the extinction of these animals.1

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Mexico
Pre-Columbian Mexico
…before developing technology for big-game hunting, are rejected by most scholars. More generally accepted claims for early settlers in Mexico pertain to a somewhat later period and to hunters of large herd animals such as the mammoth. Human artifacts and mammoth bones dated to approximately 9000 bc have been found…
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…before developing technology for big-game hunting, are rejected by most scholars. More generally accepted claims for early settlers in Mexico pertain to a somewhat later period and to hunters of large herd animals such as the mammoth. Human artifacts and mammoth bones dated to approximately 9000 bc have been found…
Read More