Itasca Bison Kill

UNIT 3

In 1937, some workers were building a bridge over a creek just south of Lake Itasca when they discovered some large bones. A team of archaeologists traveled to the site and uncovered even more bones. The scientists determined that many of the bones came from an extinct species of very large bison. Others came from a variety of smaller mammals, birds, fish, and turtles. There was even a dog skull. Over the years, on a hill overlooking the creek, archaeologists found many stone artifacts made by humans. Other evidence showed that fruits and nuts were common in the area at this time. All these things, when taken together, tell us that people who hunted here probably ate many different types of food.

Lake Itasca - 8,000 years ago

A strong north wind pushes whitecaps across the big lake and into a shallow inlet. The bison don't seem to notice. They're interested only in moving east, toward the wooded areas that provide shelter during the winter. But it's slow going here. The bottom of the inlet is soft and mucky. It's easy to get stuck. Suddenly, something strikes one of the cows (female bison) in her right flank. It's a spear. The cow bellows in pain and stumbles in the water. Her calf remains at her side. Within minutes, both the mother and her calf are dead. So are 14 other members of the herd. Four men are standing over the fallen animal.

The men butcher the bison, using sharp stone knives. They haul the heavy cuts of meat up the slope to a ridge where their families have been waiting. Here they hang the meat over fires for smoking and drying. The women begin scraping and tanning the skins. The children run after the dogs, trying to keep them from stealing the meat. Then the families celebrate the successful hunt. They feast not only on bison meat but on other foods as well. Fish, turtle, acorns, and hazelnuts all are available here.

The families don't stay long. They need to find shelter from the snow and cold. They cross the inlet and head east. Their dogs run ahead, pulling sleds loaded with food and skins.

This story about a bison hunt at Lake Itasca is based on evidence found at what we now call the Itasca Bison Kill Site. Much of the evidence tells us what sorts of things the people who lived in this area ate. And it appears that they ate many kinds of foods--not just bison. We can guess that the changes in their diet affected other parts of their lives, too. They probably organized their lives according to when food was available in certain places. Fish would be easiest to catch during the spring. Bison were easiest to find during their spring and fall migrations, as were many birds. Wild fruits ripened during the summer. Nuts were ready for eating in the fall.

evidence: the material on which a judgement or conclusion may be based. Artifacts, documents, photos, paintings, interviews, and rock carvings are all forms of historical evidence

migration: seasonal movement from one region to another

Page updated

Report abuse