Out of Ice: A Review of Greater Yellowstone Area Ice Patch Hunting Technology

Summary

While the unique plant and animal communities of the alpine are of clear ethnohistorical and modern significance to the indigenous communities of the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA), no histories regarding the use of ice patches have been identified. Information sharing with tribal groups and the public regarding the nature of ice patches, including the technical analysis of recovered materials, fosters understanding of and appreciation for these endangered features. This paper focuses on the technical analysis of wooden shafts recovered at five ice patch sites in the GYA relative to other organic hunting implements from the region. Foreshafts and darts are primarily made of birch (Betula sp.), but willow (Salix sp.) and spruce (Picea sp.) were also used. One presumed arrow shaft is made of pine (Pinus sp.). Structural and physical characteristics of birch, spruce, and pine wood make them excellent choices for this type of use.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Solving Archaeological Research Problems in Rocky Mountain and Plains Prehistory

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