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Probabilistic models of seasonal Bison exploitation based on fetal prey osteometry and reproductive phenology

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Abstract

Seasonality studies are a staple of Great Plains archaeology, but obtaining evidence for seasonal food procurement is challenging. This study explores seasonality through the lens of fetal bison remains. A method is developed that produces intra-annual probability distributions for the date of fetal death. These distributions are informed by osteometric data from fetal bison in archaeological contexts, fetal skeletal growth curves, and data-driven models of bison conception dates. Probabilities can be assigned to seasonality hypotheses by examining date intervals across these intra-annual distributions. This method is implemented through an R program and applied to seasonality hypotheses at three archaeological sites containing fetal bison remains: Big Goose Creek (Wyoming), Baker Cave III (Idaho), and the Upper Tucker Site (Texas). Unlike previous efforts to infer seasonality from fetal bison remains, this method provides explicit probabilities showing the level of agreement between the osteometric data and seasonality hypotheses. This probabilistic approach could be extended to seasonality studies involving other animal taxa both within and outside of North America.

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Acknowledgments

An early version of this paper was presented by RPB for the Rethinking Methods of Faunal Analysis Symposium, which was organized by Eugène Morin, Arianne Boileau, and Elspeth Ready for the 82nd Society for American Archaeology Meeting. The University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository kindly allowed RPB to study their collections, which was made possible by the assistance of Jody Clauter, Danny Walker, and Rachael Shimek. Ken Cannon facilitated study of the modern YNP bison skeleton. Sunday Eiselt provided access to the Upper Tucker Site. Karen Lupo provided guidance as this project initially came together and David Meltzer gave advice on presenting the seasonality hypotheses. RPB collected the Baker Cave data for his MS thesis, which was supervised by David Byers. The Idaho Museum of Natural History loaned the Baker Cave materials to Utah State University for the thesis work. Two anonymous reviewers provided comments that greatly improved the clarity and quality of this manuscript. We take responsibility for any faults or errors.

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  1. Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750336, Dallas, TX, 75275-0235, USA

    Ryan P. Breslawski

  2. Saskatchewan Archaeological Society, #1-1730 Quebec Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 1V9, Canada

    Tomasin Playford

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  1. Ryan P. Breslawski
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Correspondence to Ryan P. Breslawski.

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Breslawski, R.P., Playford, T. Probabilistic models of seasonal Bison exploitation based on fetal prey osteometry and reproductive phenology. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 10, 1851–1866 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-017-0500-y

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