Best known of the Ice Age Mammals, Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)
received her name from her outer layer of long hair. Underneath that
layer, She had another dense inner layer of fur. To cope with the icy
temperatures, Woolly Mammoth had a compact body, a high domed head and
small ears.
Woolly Mammoth had a shorter but more flexible trunk than other
Mammoths. At the end of her trunk was a finger-like appendage as well as
another protuberance. She used these to gather grasses and other plants
for eating.
The smallest of Mammoths, Woolly Mammoth had extra long tusks. These
ornate twisting tusks had many uses. For example, She could dig up
plants and clear snow with them. Also, Woolly Mammoth could fight off
predators with her tusks by bashing the attacking animal with them. Her
tusks were like tree rings, telling her age and life experience.
Meanwhile, Paleo-peoples used the tusks of Woolly Mammoth to
construct their homes. Many of their houses were built from her large
bones and woolly hides. In one homestead found in Ukraine, the skulls of
Woolly Mammoths, placed in a semi-circle, formed the base walls. Then
the jaws were used to erect the upper parts of the walls. For the
entrance, they used the leg bones of Woolly Mammoth. She provided
shelter for them on the flat, treeless plains.
The last known Mammoth lived about 4,000 years ago on a small island
near Siberia during the Stone Age. Many people believe that Woolly
Mammoth went extinct through overhunting. However others think that as
the world’s climate became warm; She could not survive adequately on the
new plants. Whatever the reason, Woolly Mammoth became the icon for
extinction from overhunting during the Ice Age.
Woolly Mammoth exudes warmth and hospitality. Meeting others during
migrations, She greets Them with touching and trumpeting with her trunk.
Furthermore, Woolly Mammoth would wait for laggards as well, welcoming
Them back into the herd.
Learn from Woolly Mammoth about proper hospitality and warmth. She
teaches us how to care for and welcome others into our hearth and home.
However do not so be taken advantage of that you end up giving up
everything you have. You can be flexible but also wary.
(Note: update of post from 2010.)
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