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

200多万年以来，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。了解生存实践和他们培养的社会组织提供了一个有价值的背景，可以有效地看待当今的社会实践。在俄克拉何马大学利兰·贝门特博士的指导下，博士候选人克里斯汀·卡尔森将分析古印第安野牛猎人在北美大规模狩猎中对迁徙牛群的关注程度，而不是对居住牛群的关注程度。我们感兴趣的古印度时期从距今10800年到9000年不等。在这一时期，猎人在没有马或枪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。大规模的野牛杀戮使得在一次活动中获得多只动物（有时超过30只）成为可能。几千年来，大规模狩猎野牛是获取资源的一种有效手段，关于早期狩猎大量野牛的方法，还有很多有待发现。这项研究的重点是猎人和猎物之间的关系。成功完成该项目所需的证据将通过对北部平原三个野牛杀戮地点和南部平原三个地点的野牛牙齿进行微量元素分析的新技术获得。本研究的目的是测试在猎杀地点发现的野牛的第三臼齿或第四前臼齿，以确定被猎杀野牛的范围领土。LA-ICP-MS是一种高精度显微采样技术，允许在微观水平上进行最小破坏性采样。通过这种采样，我们获得了一种基本的特征，它告诉我们动物生命中的特定时间间隔，并代表了野牛去过的各个地方。这项尖端技术将提供一万年前野牛迁徙模式的信息。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猎人使用的方法，以及他们如何与他们的社会组织相互作用。对猎物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学设置，为考古学家和生物学家之间的合作工作提供了机会。该项目还将通过学术著作传播信息。除了论文，将完成与这些数据，评审文章和会议报告将产生。所有调查结果都将公布并向公众提供。除了学术报告，俄克拉荷马大学还通过外展项目促进社区教育。

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.