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Excavations of the Bison Brisket Basket site were undertaken by the Archeology Laboratory, Augustana College at the request of Enron Oil and Gas Company from May 19-23, 1997. The site was exposed during well pad construction near Big Piney, in Sublette County, Wyoming.
The site is a Late Prehistoric bison butchering/camp site. Bison bones were associated with a number of hearths. The bones were lineally dispersed, suggesting a campsite located along an old channel. Two side-notched projectile points, two cutting tools and a number of microflakes were also recovered.
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To protect the site (and archeologists) from the late afternoon thunderstorms, a temporary shelter was erected over the bone bed. |
As of January 25, 1998, analysis of the recovered fauna materials is nearing completion. Floral identifications are being conducted at the PaleoResearch Laboratories of Golden, Colorado. Those results are expected by the end of February.
Three radiocarbon dates were obtained from the site, 760 ±100, 880±110 and 950±90 BP. When calibrated, and at two sigma, all three dates overlap the period AD 1036-1279.
Below are provided some views of the excavations and preliminary plans of the bone bed and hearth features.
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Staff from Enron Oil and Gas Company visiting the site during the excavation. Director, L. Adrien Hannus is providing the tour. |
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The bone was in fair condition, except for some crushing that had occurred during initial well pad construction. Elements were point plotted and wrapped in foil prior to removal. |
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View of bone layer as initially exposed. |
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Overview of bone bed and hearth features. |
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The final stage was the monitoring of the completion of the well pad construction. |
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Location of site 48SU2630 on topographic map of the well pad. |
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Initial site plan showing areas of exposed bone and stains. |
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Plan of excavations with upper bone layer exposed. In some units, two additional layers of bone were encountered. |
Comparative skeletal elements (foreground) used for identification. Analyses were aimed at determining the minimum number of individual bison represented (below), the age of the animals at death, the time of year they were killed, how they were butchered and what cuts of meat were removed.
The first two cervical vertebrae, which support the skull on the neck, are also known as the atlas and the axis. These two bones have a very distinctive shape and even small fragments can be identified. At the Bison Brisket Basket site, four atlas and eight axis vertebrae (foreground) were recovered. This indicates the minimum number of individuals (MNI) present at the site was eight.
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