The plot of The Mammoth Hunters, based on the misunderstandings and conflicts between Ayla and Jondalar, is loose and simple. The story moves through various ceremonies, including Ayla's acceptance into the camp, a summer meeting, and several hunts.

Although the characters are flat, Auel does shift points of view so that the reader hears how Talut feels about his role as clan leader and how Latie feels abandoned when her male playmates will not play with her any more. These glimpses into the minds of many characters provide a varied view of a primitive society but also lead to a lack of focus and lack of depth in the presentation of any one character.

As with the earlier novels in the series, one of the most interesting parts of The Mammoth Hunters is Auel's inclusion of material from her wide reading about early humans. The reader learns about...