On the way back from Cook Lake, WY I took an impulsive turn in response to a sign that read "Vore Buffalo Jump". And I'm glad I did. The Buffalo Jump is a sinkhole that was used by Indians from the time of Columbus until Lewis & Clark to kill buffalo each fall. The Indians didn't have horses to use for hunting so they would gather in the fall and herd the buffalo into the sinkhole. Then they would climb into the hole (approximately 75' deep in the beginning) and butcher the animals. All skulls found had the top of the head bashed in so they could get the brains which were used for tanning hides. The majority of the bones in the sinkhole are small because the meat had to be in small packets to be carried to the surface. After the Indians got horses they didn't have to kill as many animals at a time and the sinkhole fell into disuse.
No comments:
Post a Comment