Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: Reconstructing Prey Mobility Through Trace Element Analysis

200多万年来，人类及其直系祖先以狩猎和采集为生，所有人类社会的基本特征都是在这种背景下发展起来的。理解生存实践和它们所培育的社会组织提供了一个有价值的背景，在这个背景下，我们可以卓有成效地看待当今的社会实践。在来自俄克拉荷马州大学的利兰·贝门特博士的指导下，博士候选人克里斯汀·卡尔森将分析在北美大规模野牛狩猎中，古印第安人野牛猎人在多大程度上专注于迁徙牛群而不是定居牛群。古印度时期的兴趣范围从10，800到9，000年前的现在。 在这段时间里，由猎人在没有马匹或枪支的帮助下进行的大规模杀戮活动开始了，并一直持续到欧洲殖民北美。大规模的野牛捕杀使得在一次活动中能够获得多只动物（有时超过30只）。数千年来，大规模的野牛狩猎是获取资源的有效手段，关于早期狩猎大量野牛的方法仍有许多有待发现的地方。本研究的重点是猎人和猎物之间的关系。成功完成这一项目所需的证据将通过对来自三个北方平原野牛捕杀地点和三个南部平原地点的野牛牙齿进行微量元素分析的新技术来获得。本研究的目的是测试第三磨牙或第四前磨牙的野牛发现的杀戮网站，以确定范围领土的野牛狩猎。LA-ICP-MS是一种高精度的显微镜取样技术，允许在显微镜水平上进行破坏性最小的取样。通过这种采样，获得了一个元素签名，它告知了动物生活中的特定时间间隔，并代表了野牛访问过的景观上的各个地方。这项尖端技术将提供有关1万年前野牛迁移模式的信息。然后，这些数据可以与已知的考古遗址相结合，以更好地了解古印第安人猎人使用的方法以及他们如何与他们的社会组织互动。对猎物的迁徙和运动模式的研究可以进一步帮助我们了解史前的生活方式。微量元素分析也用于生物环境，为考古学家和生物学家之间的合作提供了机会。该项目还将通过学术著作传播信息。除了将使用这些数据完成的论文之外，还将产生参考文章和会议演讲。所有调查结果都将发表，并以电子方式提供。除了学术报告，俄克拉荷马州大学还通过外展计划促进社区教育。

For over two million years humans and their immediate ancestors lived as hunters and gatherers and basic elements characteristic of all human societies developed in this context. Understanding subsistence practices and the social organizations they fostered provides a valuable backdrop against which present day social practices may fruitfully be viewed. Under the guidance of Dr. Leland Bement from the University of Oklahoma Ph.D Candidate Kristen Carlson will analyze the extent to which Paleoindian bison hunters focused on migratory herds as opposed to resident herds in large-scale bison hunting in North America. The Paleoindian time period of interest ranges from 10,800 to 9,000 years before present. Large-scale kill events conducted by hunters without the aid of horses or guns began during this time and continued until European colonization of North America. Large-scale bison kills enabled the procurement of multiple animals (at times over 30 individuals) in a single event. Large-scale bison hunting was an effective means of procuring resources for thousands of years and much remains to be discovered concerning the early methods of hunting large numbers of bison. This research focuses on the relationship between the hunters and their prey. The evidence required for the successful completion of this project will be obtained through new techniques in trace element analysis of bison teeth from three northern Plains bison kill sites and three southern Plains site. The objective of this study is to test the 3rd molar or 4th premolar of bison found in kill sites in order to determine the range territory of the bison hunted. LA-ICP-MS is a high precision microscopic sampling technique that allows minimally destructive sampling at the microscopic level. Through this sampling an elemental signature is obtained informing specific time intervals in the animals life and representing the various places on the landscape visited by the bison. This cutting edge technique will provide information on bison migration patterns from 10,000 years ago. These data can then be integrated with what is known of archaeological sites to better understand the methods used by Paleoindian hunters and how they interacted with their social organization. The examination of migration and movement patterns of prey species can further inform our understanding of prehistoric ways of life. Trace element analysis is used in biological settings as well, providing an opportunity for collaborative work between archaeologists and biologists. This project will also lead to the dissemination of information through scholarly works. In addition to the dissertation that will be completed with this data, refereed articles, and conference presentations will result. All findings will be published and made publically available. In addition to academic presentations, the University of Oklahoma promotes the education of the community through outreach programs.