Apparently during the routine construction of a stock pond near Worland, Donald Colby uncovered a Clovis projectile point. In so doing, Colby found some of the earliest known evidence of human activity in Wyoming, dating to over 11,000 years old. Beginning in 1973, a team of archaeologists led by Dr. George Frison began investigating Colby’s find. Frison’s team found a total of 463 bones concentrated in two piles in a prehistoric arroyo (ravine) along with several stone and bone artifacts. Among the bones were the remains of at least seven mammoths.
Although some of the bones were disturbed, Frison and other researchers believe that the bone piles were the remains of meat caches. This find provides a unique glimpse into the life of the first hunters and gatherers of Wyoming.
This is what the historical sign says: Extinct species of mammoths, horses, camels, and bison roamed this area 11,000 years ago and were being killed by humans known as the Clovis hunters.
South of this spot 400 meters is the location of one of the largest known Clovis mammoth kills in North America. A deep arroyo with steep walls was present when the mammoths were killed. Clovis hunters would stalk a family of mammoths and spear a young animal that was careless enough to wander away from the protection of the family. As the animal became weak from the effects of the wound, it became further removed from the herd and the hunters maneuvered it into the deep arroyo where it could not escape. The hunters needed only to wait for the wound to weaken the animal enough that it could easily be killed. This kind of event was repeated many times over the years.
One pile of bones consisted of the left front quarter of a mature female mammoth with bones of other mammoths stacked around it and the skull of a young male mammoth placed on top. This is believed to have been a frozen meat cache that was never utilized and spoiled with the approach of warm weather. Another pile of mammoth bones was probably a similar cache that was utilized. A front quarter of a young mammoth would represent over 500 kilograms of meat. These caches suggest that at least some of the animals were killed during the cold weather months.
This site was excavated by the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming under the direction of Dr. George Frison, during 1973, 1975, and 1978. Materials from the site can be seen at the Washakie County Museum and Cultural Center and at the University of Wyoming Anthropological Museum
South of this spot 400 meters is the location of one of the largest known Clovis mammoth kills in North America. A deep arroyo with steep walls was present when the mammoths were killed. Clovis hunters would stalk a family of mammoths and spear a young animal that was careless enough to wander away from the protection of the family. As the animal became weak from the effects of the wound, it became further removed from the herd and the hunters maneuvered it into the deep arroyo where it could not escape. The hunters needed only to wait for the wound to weaken the animal enough that it could easily be killed. This kind of event was repeated many times over the years.
One pile of bones consisted of the left front quarter of a mature female mammoth with bones of other mammoths stacked around it and the skull of a young male mammoth placed on top. This is believed to have been a frozen meat cache that was never utilized and spoiled with the approach of warm weather. Another pile of mammoth bones was probably a similar cache that was utilized. A front quarter of a young mammoth would represent over 500 kilograms of meat. These caches suggest that at least some of the animals were killed during the cold weather months.
This site was excavated by the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming under the direction of Dr. George Frison, during 1973, 1975, and 1978. Materials from the site can be seen at the Washakie County Museum and Cultural Center and at the University of Wyoming Anthropological Museum
This is a photo of the meat cache. How cool is all this?!?!?!
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