Traveling Through Nebraska: Hudson Meng Bison Bonebed
Located approximately 35 kilometers northwest of Crawford in northwestern Nebraska, the Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed is a historically significant paleontological site within the Oglala National Grassland. The area has garnered substantial attention from archaeologists and paleontologists due to its unique stratigraphy and significance in the broader context of Great Plains history.
The bonebed, which dates back to the Late Pleistocene era, approximately 9,700 to 9,300 years ago, is notable for its unusual and intriguing concentration of fossilized remains. The discovery of over 600 bison skeletons within the site suggests that these prehistoric creatures experienced a catastrophic and simultaneous death event, the specifics of which have sparked extensive debate and research.
In an attempt to provide insight into this phenomenon, various interpretative approaches have been pursued, with one hypothesis attributing the mass extinction event to the existence of a nearby ice shelf. According to this theory, this ice shelf trapped animals like the bison while pursuing optimal grazing conditions, exacerbating the likelihood of mass casualties as climate conditions oscillated.
Mammoth and human artifacts found in close proximity to the bonebed also have scientists pondering the potential correlations between human activities, climatic conditions, and bison extinction during the Late Pleistocene era. Subsequently, researchers examining the finer details of skeletal remains and tool residue aim to augment current comprehension of initial human migrations and adaptations within the Americas.
Due to preservation efforts guided by a collaborative agreement between federal organizations, such as the United States Forest Service, and scientific institutions including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, educational tours, and further excavation endeavors will continue to advance within the Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed site. Established hiking trails guiding visitors through the area also abound near Crawford in northwestern Nebraska.
Excavation of the bonebed began in 1969 with scientific analysis commencing shortly thereafter under Dr. Larry D. Agenbroad, who led field teams via official partnerships during 1970-1977. Many collected specimens currently reside at the Black Hills Institute, Chadron State College, or Carhenge, located relatively close to the site.
Human-driven educational visits established within protected sections of the surrounding grassland offer guests unmatched views into previously prehistoric worlds that comprised evolving human migratory patterns intersecting local geology and geography. Such cross-functional involvement should foster profound appreciation and cross-discipline amalgamation driving societal initiatives towards environmental protection and historical preservation.
Furthermore, recent historical accounts with a comparable concentration on stratigraphic excavation have been investigated extensively since Agenbroad's critical discoveries.
The bonebed, which dates back to the Late Pleistocene era, approximately 9,700 to 9,300 years ago, is notable for its unusual and intriguing concentration of fossilized remains. The discovery of over 600 bison skeletons within the site suggests that these prehistoric creatures experienced a catastrophic and simultaneous death event, the specifics of which have sparked extensive debate and research.
In an attempt to provide insight into this phenomenon, various interpretative approaches have been pursued, with one hypothesis attributing the mass extinction event to the existence of a nearby ice shelf. According to this theory, this ice shelf trapped animals like the bison while pursuing optimal grazing conditions, exacerbating the likelihood of mass casualties as climate conditions oscillated.
Mammoth and human artifacts found in close proximity to the bonebed also have scientists pondering the potential correlations between human activities, climatic conditions, and bison extinction during the Late Pleistocene era. Subsequently, researchers examining the finer details of skeletal remains and tool residue aim to augment current comprehension of initial human migrations and adaptations within the Americas.
Due to preservation efforts guided by a collaborative agreement between federal organizations, such as the United States Forest Service, and scientific institutions including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, educational tours, and further excavation endeavors will continue to advance within the Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed site. Established hiking trails guiding visitors through the area also abound near Crawford in northwestern Nebraska.
Excavation of the bonebed began in 1969 with scientific analysis commencing shortly thereafter under Dr. Larry D. Agenbroad, who led field teams via official partnerships during 1970-1977. Many collected specimens currently reside at the Black Hills Institute, Chadron State College, or Carhenge, located relatively close to the site.
Human-driven educational visits established within protected sections of the surrounding grassland offer guests unmatched views into previously prehistoric worlds that comprised evolving human migratory patterns intersecting local geology and geography. Such cross-functional involvement should foster profound appreciation and cross-discipline amalgamation driving societal initiatives towards environmental protection and historical preservation.
Furthermore, recent historical accounts with a comparable concentration on stratigraphic excavation have been investigated extensively since Agenbroad's critical discoveries.
