Abstract

Excavations at both the kill and associated processing areas of the Wardell site afford an opportunity to chart the decision making processes of initial and secondary bison butchering. Comparison of skeletal elements between kill and butcher site reveal patterns apparently related to maximizing the recovery of marrow and grease. Broken and complete leg bone frequencies at the kill are predicted by marrow content, while grease content predicts leg bone counts at the processing area. Combined marrow and grease value of elements is seen to predict removal and destruction of bones from the kill and camp areas.