Barton Gulch facts for kids
Barton Gulch is an important archaeological site in southwest Montana. It has taught us a lot about some of the very first people who lived in the northwest United States during the Paleo-Indian period.
Contents
Where is Barton Gulch?
The Barton Gulch site covers about 19-acre (77,000 m2) (about 77,000 square meters). It is located in Madison County. You can find it near the Ruby River, between the Greenhorn Range and Ruby Range mountains.
From 1987 to 1993, a scientist named Dr. Les Davis led excavations here. He found 37 special areas, grouped into four main sections. Each group had a central pit, about 30 centimeters deep. Around these pits, there was a circle of smaller areas. These smaller areas show where people likely lived and worked.
The History of Barton Gulch
Barton Gulch, also known as the Barton Gulch Alder Complex, was first found in 1972. The first digging started in 1979. This site is very old, dating back about 9,400 years ago. It was discovered during intense mining for gold in the late 1970s. People thought that gold found in Barton Creek might have washed down into this area.
Barton Gulch and another nearby place called the Alder site are very important. They are considered the main examples for understanding the Blackwater Draw Paleo-Indian culture. Scientists believe this culture is linked to the famous Clovis culture. Most of the digging at Barton Gulch was done by Dr. Les Davis from Montana State University in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
What was the Climate Like?
During the end of the Pleistocene period, the Earth's climate changed a lot. Scientists think that changes in how the Earth orbits the sun might have caused more sunlight to reach our planet. This led to a big shift. As the cold Pleistocene period ended, the climate became much warmer and more suitable for life.
We know the climate was warm because many plants that like warm weather have been found during the digs at Barton Gulch.
Animals and Plants at Barton Gulch
Barton Gulch was home to many different animals. Some of these animals are not often found at other Paleo-Indian sites. They included:
The bones of deer were very useful. People used them to make tools like hammerstones and other small items. These small tools included knives, flake tools, end scrapers, and points.
Because of the warm climate, Barton Gulch also had many different kinds of edible plants. Scientists found burnt seeds, stems, and other parts from over thirty different plant types. These plant remains were found in more than one hundred cooking areas. This tells us that the people used plants for many things, like food, medicine, ceremonies, and even to make tools and weapons.
The People of Barton Gulch
The people who lived at Barton Gulch were likely semi-nomadic. This means they moved around a lot to find food, but they also might have planted crops in certain places.
The findings suggest that these people were well-organized groups of hunter-gatherers who were related to each other. They used earth ovens, which are like underground ovens, to cook plants and animals. Finding these ovens and other cooking spots shows that the people had detailed ways of preparing their food.
The many different tools made from animal bones also tell us that both men and women at Barton Gulch were busy with many different activities. One of the first known women from Barton Gulch was named Laura, from the ChunN clan.
See also
In Spanish: Barton Gulch para niños
