Hudson-Meng Bison Kill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed
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The dig site at Hudson-Meng
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| Nearest city | Crawford, Nebraska |
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| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Website | Hudson-Meng Education & Research Center |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001076 |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 1973 |
The Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed is a special place in Sioux County, Nebraska. It's officially called the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center. This amazing fossil site is found in the Oglala National Grassland. It's about 20 miles northwest of Crawford.
Here, you can see the ancient bones of up to 600 bison. These bones are about 10,000 years old!
The site is open during certain times of the year. It has a visitor center with cool exhibits. You can even see the real bison bones up close. Guided tours are also offered to help you learn more.
If you like hiking, there's a 3-mile trail called the Bison Trail. It leads to the interesting Toadstool Geologic Park.
Contents
Discovering the Ancient Bison Bonebed
How the Site Was Found
The Hudson-Meng Bonebed was discovered by two local ranchers. Their names were Bill Hudson and Albert Meng. They found the bones in 1954. They were digging a pond when they made the amazing discovery.
Early Excavations and Findings
Dr. Larry Agenbroad led the first big dig in the 1970s. The area they dug was huge, over 400 square meters. It was thought to be the largest "bison kill" site from the Alberta Culture.
The bison found here are not exactly like modern bison. They are an older type of bison. These ancient animals were a step between the extinct Bison antiquus and the Bison bison we see today.
New Ideas About the Bison's Death
In the 1990s, more excavations took place. Dr. Larry Todd and Dr. David Rapson led this research. They studied the bones carefully. Their findings suggested something new. They believed the bison died from natural causes. This meant it might not have been a "kill site" after all.
Ongoing Research and Discoveries
Research continued at the site in 2005. The PaleoCultural Research Group and the University of Colorado worked together. In 2006, Dr. Mark Muñiz became the main researcher. He is from St. Cloud State University.
His team found evidence of an "Eden component" at the site. This was in addition to the "Alberta component." These names refer to different ancient cultures. They show that different groups of people might have used the area.
Managing the Hudson-Meng Site
Who Takes Care of the Bonebed
For two years, The Mammoth Site helped manage the bonebed. This site is in Hot Springs, South Dakota. They worked under the guidance of the United States Forest Service.
Since 2009, the US Forest Service has managed the site directly. They operate out of Chadron, Nebraska. They work hard to protect this important historical place. They also help visitors learn about its past.
