Calf Creek culture facts for kids
The Calf Creek Culture was a group of ancient people who lived in North America a very long time ago. They were nomads, meaning they moved around a lot instead of staying in one place. These people were also hunter-gatherers, finding their food by hunting animals and gathering plants.
The Calf Creek people lived in the southcentral part of North America. This area includes what we now call Oklahoma and nearby states. We know about them because their tools and other items have been found in places like Beard's Bluff, Arkansas, and Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
They were active during a time called the Archaic period. This was roughly 7,500 to 4,000 years ago. That's a really long time before modern cities and towns existed!
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Amazing Spearheads of the Calf Creek Culture
The Calf Creek people were well-known for the large, special spearheads they made. These spearheads were crafted from flint, a type of hard rock. They also used heat to treat the flint, making it even stronger and easier to shape.
Discovering the Calf Creek Point
The unique spearhead made by these people is called the Calf Creek point. It was first described in 1968 by an archaeologist named Don Dickson. He found examples of these points at Calf Creek Cave in Arkansas. The cave itself was named after a small stream that flows nearby.
Hunting with Ancient Tools
The Calf Creek people were skilled hunters. They used their large, sharp spearheads to hunt big animals.
The Bison Skull Discovery
In 2003, something amazing was found near the Arkansas River. A bison skull, about 5,120 years old, was discovered by Kim Holt. This discovery was even shown on a TV show called History Detectives.
What made this find so special? A Calf Creek spearhead was stuck right above the bison's eye socket! This showed how powerful these spearheads were.
Using the Atlatl
The size of the spearhead and the deep wound it made suggest something else. The Calf Creek people likely used a tool called an atlatl. An atlatl is a special stick that helps throw a spear with much more force and speed. It's like an extension of your arm, making the spear go farther and hit harder. This tool would have been very helpful for hunting large animals like bison.
