What Skyrim Gets Wrong About Real Mammoths

The wilds of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim feature many fantastic creatures, some of which are based in history and some that are entirely fiction. Mammoths are one of the largest herbivores found in the game and are an example of a real creature that was slightly adjusted for Tamriel. Some embellishments on the true history of mammoths may be more obvious than others.

The dangerous mammoths found in Skyrim are massive. Measuring almost 15 feet tall with four curved tusks, two larger and two smaller, with the longer pair an estimated 12 feet long. The mammoths kept as livestock by giants also flaunt ornate carvings on their tusks. In actuality, the largest species of mammoths grew to roughly 13 feet in height, with most species of mammoths reaching a maximum of 10 feet. Mammoths only had two tusks that averaged 5-9 feet in length though the longest tusk ever found was almost 14 feet long. Early humans were known to carve into mammoth tusks, but mainly for crafting tools.

The trunks of the mammoths depicted in Skyrim are more similar to elephant trunks than what historians believe mammoth trunks looked like. Mammoth snouts are the item that represents these harvested trunks and can provide players with up-close detail, and a great meal for Skyrim‘s new survival mode. Mammoth trunks were believed to have a more pronounced top ‘finger’ and wider bottom ‘finger’ composing the tip of their trunk, as opposed to the bifurcated oval shape seen in modern elephants.

Why Skyrim’s Mammoths Are Unrealistic

Mammoths are believed to have lived in groups of up to 20 individuals. These herds were headed by a dominant female, with several other females and the younger offspring traveling together. Males would often separate to live alone or in smaller groups once they were older. This behavior was predicted using observations of modern elephants and evidence left by mammoth remains found at different fossil sites. In Skyrim, mammoth herds can be found in the care of giants but can also be found roaming wild. Skyrim’s mammoths have also been known to fly as a result of one of the game’s trademark glitches. They tend to keep to smaller groups of less than six mammoths, though this could be due to game performance limitations.

No evidence suggests mammoths were ever domesticated, tamed, or farmed. This would probably have been too risky for early humans and not worth their effort, with other food sources available elsewhere. This also means early humans probably never had any mammoth cheese like players can find in Skyrim. Giants seem to have easily domesticated mammoths, likely aided by their large stature and respect for the creatures, which goes against the idea that Skyrim’s giants are just monsters.

Though embellished in size and utility the appearance of mammoths in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is fairly accurate. They are covered in thick layers of fur, with smaller ears designed to reduce the risk of frostbite, well suited for the tundras of Tamriel. Mammoths are also believed to have been mostly docile, reflected well in their video game counterparts that will usually only attack if they feel threatened.

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