Abstract

Mitigative excavations at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (HSI) have revealed a large and unusual pit feature located in the processing area, well below the kill-site. This conical pit, over a metre in depth, contained 927 identifiable bison bone specimens, including articulated joints, several skull portions, and bones from one or more extremely large bison. The 46 artifacts fall into upper and lower groupings. The upper group includes a typical assortment of HSI lithics such as projectile points, an end scraper, modified flakes and cores. The lower group is made up of 19 sherds of a single pottery vessel, two ochre-painted bones, and two spatulate objects made from bison mandibles. A suite of radio-carbon dates indicates an (uncalibrated) age of 1250 ± 50 B.P. and the artifacts suggest an Avonlea affiliation. The shape and contents of this pit are unique and there is no obvious functional interpretation. A ceremonial association is suggested.