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Late Pleistocene Horse Hunting at the Wally's Beach Site (DhPg-8), Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

B. Kooyman ,
L. V. Hills ,
P. McNeil  and
S. Tolman
B. Kooyman
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
L. V. Hills
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
P. McNeil
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
S. Tolman
Affiliation:
P.O. Box 1146, Cardston, Alberta, T0K 0K0
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Abstract

Evidence from the Wally's Beach site in southwestern Alberta indicates Pleistocene horses were hunted by Clovis age peoples. A number of artifacts are associated with a horse skeleton, including a cut-marked hyoid indicative of butchering and a flake projecting below one of the vertebrae that establishes the archaeological material is not intrusive. A large unmodified cobble apparently was used to mark the kill or anchor the cache. Six other finds of horse remains also have associated lithic artifacts. Horse behavior is explored to speculate on hunting strategy. It is concluded that humans and climate change probably contributed to the late Pleistocene extinction of North American horses.

Résumé

Résumé

La evidencia en el sitio Wally's Beach en el suroeste de Alberta indica que los caballos del Pleistoceno eran cazados por la gente de la era de Clovis. Numerosos artefactos son asociados con el esqueleto de un caballo, incluyendo un hioides marcado con cortes que indica descuartizamiento y una astilla que se proyecta debajo de una de las vértebras lo cual establece que el material arqueológico no es intrusivo. Aparentemente, un guijarro grande y sin modificar era usado para marcar el lugar donde dejaban la presa o asegurar el escondite. Otros seis hallazgos de restos de caballos también están asociados a artefactos líticos. El comportamiento de los caballos es explorado para especular sobre las estrategias de caza. Se concluye que los seres humanos y los cambios climáticos contribuyeron probablemente a la extinción de los caballos de Norte América al final del Pleistoceno.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 71 , Issue 1 , January 2006 , pp. 101 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2006

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