| Taxon | |
| Impact | Major influence on human societies and ecology |
| Extinction | Survived into modern era |
| Adaptations | Wide range of environments |
| Classification | Large, hairy elephantine creatures |
| Human Interactions | Beasts of burden • Source of food and materials • Cultural and religious symbols |
Mammoths are a genus of large, tusked, woolly elephants that have continued to thrive into the modern era, unlike in our own timeline where they went extinct thousands of years ago. These hardy survivors have adapted to a wide range of environments, from the tundras of the far north to the savannas of the tropics. Mammoths have become deeply integrated into the cultures and economies of many human civilizations, serving as beasts of burden, sources of food and materials, and important cultural and religious symbols.
The mammoth lineage diverged from modern elephants over 5 million years ago, with the earliest known species emerging in what is now Siberia during the Pliocene epoch. As the Pleistocene ice ages began, mammoths evolved adaptations like thick fur, small ears, and a high-domed skull to survive the extreme cold of the tundra and taiga environments they inhabited.
By the end of the last ice age around 10,000 years ago, most species of mammoth had gone extinct worldwide. However, isolated populations managed to survive in several refugia, including the Wrangel Island of Siberia, the Mediterranean islands, and the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau. These surviving populations diversified into distinct subspecies adapted to their local environments.
The three main surviving subspecies of mammoth today are:
Smaller isolated populations of other mammoth subspecies also exist on islands and mountain ranges around the world. All share the iconic appearance of large, shaggy bodies with long curved tusks, but differ in size, tusk shape, and other physical characteristics.
Mammoths have a long history of interaction with human cultures, going back to the earliest Paleolithic peoples who hunted the animals for food, hides and ivory. As human civilizations developed, mammoths became increasingly incorporated into economies, societies and belief systems.
Many ancient Eurasian and North American cultures revered mammoths as sacred or totemic animals, depicting them in cave paintings, rock carvings, and religious rituals. By 3000 BCE, human settlements in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China were using mammoths as beasts of burden, for transportation, and to aid in construction projects.
The domestication of mammoths played a key role in the rise of major early empires like the Achaemenid Persian Empire, the Zhou Dynasty of China, and the Aztec Empire. Mammoth-powered logistics and transportation networks facilitated the expansion of trade, agriculture, and military power across vast regions. Prized as status symbols, mammoths were also showcased in grand parades and royal menageries.
The continued existence of mammoths has had a profound impact on the ecosystems they inhabit. Their grazing and trampling has helped maintain the open grasslands, meadows and savannas that dominate much of the Northern Hemisphere. Mammoth dung also enriches the soil, supporting diverse plant and animal communities.
However, the immense size and voracious appetite of mammoths means they can also have a disruptive ecological influence. Overgrazing by large mammoth herds has been linked to the deforestation of boreal and temperate woodlands in some regions. And the methane produced by so many massive herbivores is believed to be a contributor to global climate change.
Concerns over the environmental impact of mammoths, as well as the perceived threat they pose to human settlements, have led to increased efforts to conserve and manage mammoth populations worldwide. Many countries have established protected wilderness areas and breeding programs to ensure the survival of these iconic animals.
At the same time, advances in biotechnology have raised the possibility of resurrecting extinct species of mammoth through cloning or genetic engineering. Should such efforts succeed, it could dramatically alter the future of mammoths and the ecosystems they inhabit. For now, the continued coexistence of humans and these immense, woolly beasts remains one of the most unique features of this alternate timeline's natural world.
