Cooper Bison Kill Site facts for kids

The Cooper Bison Kill Site is a very important archaeological site. It is located near Fort Supply in Harper County, Oklahoma. This special place sits along the Beaver River.

Scientists explored the site in 1993 and 1994. They found many ancient tools and objects there. These items belonged to the Folsom tradition people. This group of early Americans lived a long time ago.

The discoveries included arrowheads and other tools. Experts believe these tools were used by hunters. They think the hunters killed bison in a small valley called an arroyo. These ancient hunters used the site many times. The items found show there were at least three different hunts here.

Ancient Bison Hunts

The Cooper Site was a great spot for hunting. It was a gully that led to the North Canadian River. Scientists found proof of three separate bison kills. Each hunt involved about twenty to thirty animals. These animals included cows, calves, and young bulls. All three hunts happened during the late summer or early fall.

The tools found at the site were simple but effective. They mainly consisted of projectile points. These are the sharp tips of spears or darts. Large flake knives were also found. These knives were used for cutting up the animals.

A Glimpse into the Past

Scientists have figured out how old the site is. It dates back about 10,900 to 10,200 years ago. This makes it a very old and important place. In 2002, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places important to American history.

One amazing discovery at the site was a Bison antiquus skull. This is a skull from an ancient type of bison. What makes it special is that it was painted! It had a red zigzag design on it. This makes the Cooper Bison Skull the oldest known painted object in North America. Today, you can see this incredible skull. It is kept at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. This museum is part of the University of Oklahoma in Norman.