{"id":11295,"date":"2020-12-10T17:14:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T22:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/buffalo-jump-a-site-above-all-sites\/"},"modified":"2020-12-10T17:14:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T22:14:24","slug":"buffalo-jump-a-site-above-all-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/buffalo-jump-a-site-above-all-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Buffalo Jump: A site above all sites"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>Part II<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Vore Buffalo Jump (VBJ) near Sundance, Wyoming is one of the largest preserved big game kill sites in the world, said Dr. Charles Reher, the leading archaeologist who excavated the site, devoting much of his career to get the site protected, researched and donated to UW and the VBJ Foundation. VBJ Board President credits Reher with being a driving force to protect, research and preserve the site.<\/p>\n

Reher explains that VBJ is indeed one of the most amazing archaeological sites on the planet, one of the largest and certainly the best-preserved buffalo jump on the Plains.\u00a0 Most of the Plains Tribes\u2019 Buffalo jumps were at the bottom of a cliff-like structure and so prone to various geological erosions.\u00a0 Not so for the Vore sinkhole bottom, used for a jump and then extensive and intense butchering needed to transport out all the bison products up, then covered by slope wash until the next set of jumps.<\/p>\n

Altogether, 22 different hunts have been documented at the site, the first in 1559 and others until 1,800. The probable Tribal groups to have used the site are shown by the style and quarry sources for the arrow points illustrating the incredible cultural dynamics in the Late Prehistoric\/Early Historic era.<\/p>\n

The \u201csink hole\u201d contains thousands of buffalo and hundreds of arrowheads, chips, and fragments.\u00a0 Included among the animal skeletal remains are predators: grizzly bear, wolves, and hybrid wolves.\u00a0 Scientists estimate that Native people hunted big game in America for 13,000 years \u2013 at the very least 10,000 and in the absence of horses and \u201cjumps\u201d were frequently used.\u00a0 Many such sites dot the countryside but are not so well preserved as the VBJ due to soil and topography.<\/p>\n

Thus, for the vast part of tribal history is America, these long-ago ancestors were extremely dependent upon dogs and stone tools.\u00a0 The availability and use of horses and metal tools to the Plains Tribes flowered only for a relatively brief time \u2013 estimated at about 150 years, but that was enough to revolutionize the cultures and lifestyles.<\/p>\n

Prior to that dogs were the key to survival for Plains tribal people, primarily used as beasts of burden, hauling travois as people followed the big game.\u00a0 One single tanned buffalo tipi, for example weighs about 80 pounds.\u00a0 Scientists estimate that 5-8 dogs were needed for each tipi in a village.\u00a0 These wolf hybrids were smaller than a wolf, perhaps the size of a contemporary German shepherd and scientists estimate it took the meat of many bison to sustain them, let alone the people.\u00a0 At the VBJ the skeletal remains of domesticated hybrids are easily differentiated from wolves because the tips of the fangs were knocked off, probably a technique used by tribal people to make these dogs, much like wolves, more manageable.<\/p>\n

It is mind-boggling to consider the amount of physical work and complex planning required to make a successful buffalo jump kill and to salvage the meat and by-products.\u00a0 At the VBF for example, the tribal people probably camped at \u201cSand Creek\u201d (not to be confused with the notorious Sand Creek massacre site in Colorado).\u00a0 It was about three miles from the Jump, the nearest source of water in that otherwise dry region.<\/p>\n

Executing a successful hunt required a high degree of planning, organization, knowledge of the animals and terrain, incredibly hard physical labor, and extensive inter-tribal coordination.\u00a0 First, the buffalo had to be found \u2013 the hunts were typically held in the fall when the animals had acquired maximum fat for the winter and temperatures were cooler for processing and preserving the meat and by-products.\u00a0 Elaborate preparations were then necessary to get the buffalo to the jump, including setting posts and guides.\u00a0 Buffalo are somewhat near-sighted and will not charge through an obstacle if they cannot see through it.\u00a0 Thus, the people literally built fences, utilizing rocks, and even setting posts, those lines camouflaged with brush.\u00a0 Then, the herd had to be carefully encouraged towards that destination, the \u201cherders\u201d most likely disguising themselves in wolf skins and other furs, yet still careful not to stampede the animals who might then bypass the jump.\u00a0 Even one person could ruin this carefully planned maneuver, so tribal discipline must have been at an all-time high.\u00a0 Among the Northern Cheyenne, for example, even when horseback hunts were held the tribal military societies were responsible for the behavior of tribal members as a well-laid hunt plan\u00a0 could be spoiled by even one person in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing.<\/p>\n

After a successful stampede, the real work, quite dangerous, began. A typical hunt harvested about 225 animals; dead or dying buffalo littered the relatively small sinkhole floor (about the size of a basketball court) rimmed by steep 50\u2019 foot sides.\u00a0 These carcasses, weighing up to 1,500 pounds had to be butchered, dismantled, and carted back to the distant camp site for processing.\u00a0 All parts were utilized. As evidenced at VBJ for example, the skulls were bashed in to obtain and salvage brains used for tanning.<\/p>\n

It makes this author wonder if we contemporary Indians, even aided by horses perhaps four-wheelers or helicopters could pull off such a feat.\u00a0 And how many of us would have the fortitude and strength to do it afoot? It would be challenging.<\/p>\n

Tribal people are strong, descending from people who did incredible things like buffalo jump hunts to survive.\u00a0 Our children need to learn about and appreciate this.\u00a0 The VBJ provides ample learning opportunities: on-line video sessions; Native archaeological students can apply for paid summer work internships, group tours are held during the summer season \u2013 children and student groups especially welcome \u2013 and paid tour guide positions are available.\u00a0 The organization welcomes the participation of Native Americans.\u00a0 As VBJ Advisory Board member Dr. Richard Littlebear, Northern Cheyenne tribal college president stresses \u201cOur people need to know about this part of our history.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The post Buffalo Jump: A site above all sites<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Part II The Vore Buffalo Jump (VBJ) near Sundance, Wyoming is one of the largest preserved big game kill sites in the world, said Dr. Charles Reher, the leading archaeologist who excavated the site, devoting much of his career to get the site protected, researched and donated to UW and <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a>
Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> December 10, 2020<\/p>\n

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