Investigating mandible detachment, tongue removal, and seasonality estimates at the Fincastle site

Abstract

Mass bison kill events, such as the Fincastle site, have been the dominant focus of zooarchaeological work on the Great Plains. This research has improved understanding of prehistoric Indigenous cultural activity through the analysis of bison skeletal remains. Specific element frequency patterns identified in the Fincastle bison assemblage created avenues for further research connecting their regularity to cultural activity. Specifically, the process of cranial separation, mandible detachment, and tongue removal were investigated based on skull element portion and frequency. Additionally, the large number of mandibles in the assemblage were used to estimate the seasonality of the kill event. Patterns identified in the eruption and wear sequence of the Fincastle molar cusps indicate the complexity of seasonality models, and that further research is needed in bison dentition analyses to understand the connection between age and seasonality estimates.