Abstract

All identified large mammal bones from two Paleoindian components dating c. 10,500 to 9800 B.P. at Charlie Lake Cave can be assigned to Bison sp. Human involvement in the accumulation of the bones is demonstrated by evidence for butchering, and for selection of certain elements. Subsequent taphonomic processes included gnawing and dispersal by large carnivores, downslope movement, and rapid burial. This paper attempts to delineate the human behaviours which resulted in the accumulation of the bones. Competing hypotheses for the accumulation of bones and artifacts include: kill site; refuse area adjacent to a kill/processing site; redeposition; children's play.