Bison Hunting at Cooper Site: Where Lightning Bolts Drew Thundering Herds

By Leland C. Bement

Book Overview

Almost seventy years ago the first Folsom projectile point found in association with ancient bison bones in northern New Mexico demonstrated that Paleoindian people were in the New World as long ago as the end of the last ice age. To this day intact deposits containing Folsom points are rare, yet these points, with their distinctive channel flakes and exquisite craftsmanship, remain the best identifier of the culture. The Cooper site, discovered in 1992 in northwestern Oklahoma, is among the largest Folsom-age kill sites in the southern plains. Including extraordinarily well-preserved bison bones and thirty-three projectile points, the site has yielded major contributions to what is known of this early people.

Leland C. Bement outlines the history of the Cooper site, its discovery and excavation. As the remains were found in stratified bonebeds, they provide the first clear traces of sequential Folsom activity. Analysis of the bones indicates a selective or "gourmet" butchering technique and offers insights into bison-herd demographics. Assessment of the projectile points suggests the movements of Folsom groups in relation to lithic sources.

Here also is the first evidence of Folsom hunting ritual, in the form of a startling red zigzag painted on one of the skulls. The painted skull--the oldest design-painted object in North America--greatly enlarges the significance of the Cooper site, offering evidence of early ritual rarely seen in the tangible physical record.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806130539
• ISBN13: 9780806130538
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

RED STRIPE OF LIGHTNING ON THE SKULL

When they unearthed the Bison skull with the red stripe of lightning on the skull they knew this was just not another Folsom site. The red stripe had been put there by Paleoindian Folsom hunters and down through the years spoke to the excavators of the site as the ancient hunter's wish for success in hunting. Nothing of its type has to this point ever been found at a Folsom site. The Cooper Site in northwestern Oklahoma has been worked on since 1993 with 3 distinct levels of Bison bones, Folsom points, and other evidence of hunting activity going back between 10,200 and 10,900 years ago. Three levels had to be excavated to uncover the activities of these Paleoindian people who obtained their meat supply at this ravine. The site also represents "the largest Folsom-age kill sites in the southern plains.". In total 33 projectile points have been uncovered, with indication that these Folsom hunters used a "selective or 'gourmet' butchering technique.". There are three types of bison: Bison bison, modern day species; Bison occidentalis, an ancient intermediate bison now exinct, and the one found at the Cooper Site, Bison antiquus, a species having long, straight horns which both the Clovis and Folsom peoples hunted, with the now extinct Bison antiquus being a large, robust animal. The book has many photographs which help to further the reader's understanding of the narrative, but one minor flaw to the book is that these photos are not very clear, and there are no color ones. But since books of this nature do not come off press very often this small flaw doesn't count too much against the book. I studied Anthropology in college and find this book to be terribly interesting, possibly others lacking interest in anthropology and archaeology may not be as enthusiastic as myself. But as with all books from U of Ok this book will be well worth the time spent by most readers. Semper Fi.