[Aztlan] gomphotheres

[Allan Shumaker]

Susanna,
There were several species of probiscans in the Americas during the Pleistocene. I was primarily interested in the 4 tusked variety of which there were at least 2, gomphotheres and rhyncohtheres. I could not find a sketch of gomphothere but Olduvai George has his reconstruction of Rhynchotherium at http://www.flickr.com/photos/olduvaigeorge/page7/

The engraved mammoth pelvis found at Valsequillo was featured in Life Magazine back in the 1960s but has since 'disappeared'. If you are interested in the sordid background read Chris Hardaker's First American.  http://www.amazon.com/First-American-Suppressed-People-Discovered/dp/1564149420/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257445254&sr=8-1

That engraved bone is usually referred to as the "Tetela Engraving". 
http://www.valsequilloclassic.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=44

The mention of gomphothere meat found at Monte Verde is in this paper.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/320/5877/784

and a discussion of gomphotheres in South America can be found here:
www.sovraintendenzaroma.it/content/download/4814/.../337_340.pdf