Journal article
A New Look at the Old Scottsbluff Bison Quarry: Using Isotopes and Zooarchaeology to Understand Bonebed Formation
PaleoAmerica, Vol.3(1), pp.84-95
01/02/2017
DOI: 10.1080/20555563.2016.1269579
Abstract
In 1932, the University of Nebraska State Museum undertook excavations at the Scottsbluff Bison Quarry in northwest Nebraska. Our reanalysis of the extant faunal collection found a minimum of 26 bison present, some with evidence of limited filleting and limb dismemberment. However, we also see signs of post-depositional alteration of the site assemblage and collection bias on the part of the original excavators, and argue that the existing museum collection does not accurately reflect the size and composition of the original bonebed. Skeletal element frequency patterning and variability in stable isotope values suggest severe post-depositional modification, likely fluvial sorting, strongly affected the composition of the bonebed. Despite the site's historical importance, Scottsbluff faunal data should only be used in the future with great caution.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A New Look at the Old Scottsbluff Bison Quarry: Using Isotopes and Zooarchaeology to Understand Bonebed Formation
- Creators
- Matthew E Hill - Department of Anthropology, University of IowaAndrew R Boehm - Museum of Natural and Cultural History, University of Oregon
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PaleoAmerica, Vol.3(1), pp.84-95
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.1080/20555563.2016.1269579
- ISSN
- 2055-5563
- eISSN
- 2055-5571
- Grant note
- QUEST Archaeological Research Program The NSF-Arizona AMS Laboratory Department of Anthropology University of Arizona
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/02/2017
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology
- Record Identifier
- 9983983654902771
Metrics
13 Record Views