These are the bones of juveniles, up to around 14 years old, both males and females. Several adults lied here, too, all females, including one huge specimen, at least 40 years old. This range of age and sex exactly matches that of a modern-day African elephant herd. An older matriarch, the leader of the herd, is accompanied by her daughters and other female relatives. And they in turn are with their young, both male and female. 

 

But where were the adult males when this herd was destroyed? A unique clue to their lives was uncovered in Nebraska. Recreated here are the skulls of two gigantic males that died with their tusks interlocked. How could this have happened? Again our best bet is to look at elephant society. During the breeding season, sexually mature bull elephants fight for access to the female herds. The tangled tusks are direct evidence that mammoths were aggressive,too.