| Keyword |
Description |
| Archaeologist |
A Scientist studying past cultures and artifacts |
| Excavation |
Careful digging to uncover buried evidence |
| Herd behavior |
Group movement patterns indicating family structure |
When crews built a new airport near Mexico City, they uncovered a massive Ice Age site with over 70,000 fossils, including remains from at least 500 Columbian mammoths, plus camels, horses, giant ground sloths, wolves, and deer. These elephant-like mammals could reach about 4 meters tall and up to 12 tons, even larger than woolly mammoths from colder regions. Mexican archaeologists and biologists cataloged the finds and protected the area so careful science could happen.
A UNAM research team carefully drilled fine dust from mammoth teeth to test for DNA—genetic instructions that reveal ancestry and population history. Despite warm conditions, more than 80% of the sampled teeth still held DNA, enabling the first genetic study of tropical mammoths.
Results suggest mammoths in the Basin of Mexico were distinct from northern groups, and the mix of male and female remains points to family herds rather than lone animals. The project, published in Science, brought together many Mexican experts and two persistent college students, and the team is now sequencing DNA from horses, camels, bison, and deer from the same site. This discovery shows how construction setbacks can turn into breakthroughs when scientists ask questions, collect data safely, and communicate findings.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Camel |
Camello |
| Archaeologists |
Arqueólogos |
| Published |
Publicado |
Time to discuss
- How do DNA results change what scientists can infer compared to bones alone?
- What evidence supports the idea of family herds at this site?
- How should builders and scientists collaborate when ancient remains appear?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Explain how this discovery models the scientific process from question to publication.
- Argue why preserving sites during construction benefits both history and communities.
