Posted on 06/03/2006 2:54:50 PM PDT by blam
Killing ground
Published: Saturday, June 03, 2006
PURPLE SPRINGS, Alta. - Buried deep below a shallow southeastern Alberta valley, punctuated by wind-swept sand dunes, vast grassland and aging cow manure, lies evidence of a slaughter that took place 2,500 years ago.
What was once little more than leased Crown land now doubles as a precious archeological dig, which, with each turn of the trowel, is teaching University of Lethbridge researchers what one of Alberta's few known bison kill sites can tell us about our past.
Listening to archeology professor Shawn Bubel tell the story of how a roaming herd met its demise, it's as though she was there when the nomadic hunters stalked, slaughtered and butchered their prey in a single winter kill.
"From what we can tell, the hunters followed the bison into this valley, scattered around the dune and ambushed them," she says, while her team of 14 students meticulously picks away at the dirt.
"They slaughtered about 10, maybe 15, cut them open, ripped them apart for food, chopped their legs off, ripped the ribs open to get the meat, tore the hide off and the bones fell all around here.
"Then they took what they needed, what they could carry and continued on to their camp, which is probably about four kilometres that way, to the Oldman River," says Ms. Bubel.
"That's what we think so far. But we are a long way from completing the picture."
Over the past three years, researchers have spent a total of five months excavating the site.
The bone bed at this relatively secret location near Purple Springs, about 220 kilometres southeast of Calgary, was first discovered by professionals in 2003, when Ms. Bubel, president of the Archaeological Society of Alberta, learned that a local man was desecrating the area. The man dug up bones on his own, and later recruited his children to help, Ms. Bubel says.
Angry archeologists nicknamed him the "pot hunter."
He and his family were spotted carting shovels and pick axes into the area, unearthing artifacts and removing them without a permit -- an act that has been illegal in Alberta since 1973.
Although no charges were laid, prosecution carries a fine of up to $50,000 and/or one year in prison.
Once RCMP and Alberta government officials were notified, Ms. Bubel was sent to the site to investigate the extent of damage and to map the land. On that first visit, she discovered evidence that assured her the area was potentially a bison kill site.
The first dig began in May 2004. By September, radio carbon dating determined the artifacts were 2,500 years old.
On May 1 of this year, after a hiatus from the dig in 2005, a University of Lethbridge crew returned to the Fincastle Kill Site, so named because it's located on the hamlet of Fincastle grazing reserve.
They have spent the past month sifting through two areas, each smaller than the previous dig.
It's a finicky field study, the students say, although rewarding.
At this dig, seven teams of two work in roped-off sections, one-metre square, for up to 10 hours a day.
One student squats on the ground and gently searches five-centimetre deep layers, uncovering leg bones, ankles, tails, vertebrae, toes, intact jaws and teeth of bison young and old.
Click on the site for more....
GGG Ping.
"On that first visit, she discovered evidence that assured her the area was potentially a bison kill site."
Gee, is that a cliff?
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Not only that, it mixes technologies -- mentioning "arrows", (bow-propelled) "darts", (atlatl-propelled) and spears, (hand-propelled). IOW & IMO, that report is nearly useless...
Thats all???? I really don't know what I was thinking when I clicked on this story.........but 10 or 15 buffalos being killed wasn't what I had in mind.
Deer licenses here in Michigan should have a 10 to 15 deer limit.......
What's for dinner?
What, no PETA joke yet??
;-)
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