Paleoindian Bison Hunting Weaponry

[11KBP]

Some of mine and my dad’s favorite personally found Paleoindian projectiles. There is no restoration on any of the points. The bison skull is that of a Bison Occidentalis I found in 1993. Our artifact hunting region has been in southern Nebraska where the Central Great Plains borders the High Plains.

 

[robertk]

Bison are powerful beasts. I wouldn't want to go up against one with nothing but a sharp stone and a stick. The people who made those points may be seen as "primitive" by some measures, but they were unbelievably resourceful and tough, in my opinion.

That's a really great display.

 

[DizzyDigger]

That's a beautiful display.

Never tried it, but I can only imagine the effort it would take to shove one of those
points into the heart/lungs of a bison while also not getting stomped into the dirt.

 

[russau]

Some of mine and my dad’s favorite personally found Paleoindian projectiles. There is no restoration on any of the points. The bison skull is that of a Bison Occidentalis I found in 1993. Our artifact hunting region has been in southern Nebraska where the Central Great Plains borders the High Plains.

View attachment 2231656​

About 20 / 30 years ago a man found a fossilized Bison skull on banks of the Missouri River during a Fall hunt when the River was down . it was pictured in the St. Louis , Mo. Post - Dispatch paper with the comment from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources saying that fossils found in the River were NOT to be moved and that they belong to the MDNR . There was no mention of if that fossil was turned over to the But it did give me a heads up on what to do if I found something like that ! Real nice display !!!

 

[CreekSide]

That would make for a great poster

 

[opalboy]

Fantastic!!

 

[pepperj]

Great looking display. 👌

 

[newnan man]

That is one of the best displays I've ever seen. Creekside is right, it would make a great poster. The points are amazing. There was an extinct type of Bison skull found here in Florida with a point imbeded in it right between the eyes. I think its in a museum so maybe I can find a picture. Thanks for the post.

 

[newnan man]

 

[11KBP]

Bison are powerful beasts. I wouldn't want to go up against one with nothing but a sharp stone and a stick. The people who made those points may be seen as "primitive" by some measures, but they were unbelievably resourceful and tough, in my opinion.

That's a really great display.

Thanks robertk and others who replied to this post.

I will agree that these Paleoindian hunters “were unbelievably resourceful” however the atlatl-dart combination did not require an up close dangerous confrontation with these large animals. What was required was the knowledge of the hunted species habits and knowing how the local topographical features could be utilized to the hunter’s advantage.

The nomadic big game hunters, at least those in the region of the Great Plains, were oftentimes on the move to be near the bison herds. I believe they were very cautious and did not take unnecessary risks as a hunter could ill afford to become crippled which would be a definite handicap for a nomadic band.

 

[ToddsPoint]

When the Indians, paleo to historic, were hunting animals that traveled in huge herds, I think it wasn’t that difficult to take one. Just like lions hunting herds in Africa, they watch the herd and follow it. They look for the old, the injured, the young. When there are 10,000 animals traveling together, there will always be one that can’t keep up. Why would you even attempt to kill a healthy mature bull? Indians always took the path of least resistance.

 

[tahomatom]

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That brings the question, it took great tactical knowledge and bravado to put that there. How would that be done? If it was me, I’d be the fastest one getting the heck out of there🤣

 

[GirlWithWolf]

That’s an awesome collection and a magnificent display! I agree with the others that said it would make an awesome poster. I’d like to open a bison burger shop and call it Bison Skull Burgers. That would go perfectly by the front door (hint hint). Especially cool since my mom is a Plains Indian.

 

[old digger]

Your display is truly awesome! I really like those Agate Basins. Oh, I will eat Bison {burger} before any beef burger.​

 

[unclemac]

When the Indians, paleo to historic, were hunting animals that traveled in huge herds, I think it wasn’t that difficult to take one. Just like lions hunting herds in Africa, they watch the herd and follow it. They look for the old, the injured, the young. When there are 10,000 animals traveling together, there will always be one that can’t keep up. Why would you even attempt to kill a healthy mature bull? Indians always took the path of least resistance.

don't forget buffalo jumps.... a very effective way to hunt