Still not sure how the molecular stuff works, since the ratios of predators apparently do not reflect their prey particularly well.

    But the molecular bs aside it is rather interesting, though not particularly surprising to me, that these guys hunted vs. scavenged.  The real issue in my opinion is whether they took on unrestrained animals or trapped animals.  Most "hunting" groups do a lot of trapping.  It is far easier, and safer, and much more productive.  For example the norgemen of 700ad were pretty good at trapping moose in shallow (hip-deep) pits and then clubbing them.  So good in fact, that it is estimated that they could clean out 90% or more of the moose in a river basin in one season.  But what these beetlebrow guys actually did, still remains a mystery.

    I do take exception to one thing in their paper.  They claimed that mammoth were probably more selective dieters than the other herbivores in their samples.  I doubt that, without seeing much stronger data.  The selectivity of Bos/Bison species (at least the NA types) is incredible.  They are like microlawn mowers that avoid anything but grass.   Not that any of that really has much bearing on their results however.

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