Late Pleistocene butchered Bison antiquus from Ayer Pond, Orcas Island, Pacific Northwest: Age confirmation and taphonomy

Abstract

Bone modifications on well-preserved Bison antiquus remains recently discovered during pond construction in the Pacific Northwest provide evidence suggestive of Late Pleistocene human activity. Since excavation and recovery conditions were not ideal careful evaluation of all observations separated those that can be made with confidence, and identified and discounted those less reliable. The report focuses on the context of the discovery, the taphonomic evidence, and compares modifications to those from other reported kill sites, considering evidence for human butchering and predator and scavenger damage. New test results confirm the bison is Late Pleistocene in age. A recent AMS radiocarbon date involving different pretreatment protocols places the event at 11,990 14C BP, slightly older than the first test results of 11,760 14C BP. These dates and observations were used to conclude that the bison was butchered by humans shortly after deglaciation.