The Fincastle site: A Late Middle Prehistoric bison kill on the Northwestern Plains

Abstract

Excavations at the Fincastle site located in southern Alberta began in 2004. Objects recovered include bison bone fragments, debitage, lithic cores, projectile points, expedient and formed tools, and fire-broken rocks. Our analysis shows that Fincastle has kill spots as well as primary (carcass disarticulation) and secondary (tongue removal, marrow extraction, and grease rendering) butchering activities. Fincastle is a single event site with a number of ceremonial bone upright features. The features and the predominance of Knife River Flint signify a strong cultural connection between the Fincastle hunters and groups living in the Middle Missouri area during the Late Middle Prehistoric Period. These findings and its early date of 2500 B.P. add to the debate surrounding the classification and interpretation of the Outlook Complex, Besant Phase, and Sonota Complex on the Northwestern Plains.