| Bone Tools from the Arkansas River |
Unmodified bison scapula.
Notice projecting "wing" of bone.
Notice projecting "wing" of bone.
Scapula hoe on display at the
Nobel Museum in Norman, OK.
Nobel Museum in Norman, OK.
Scapula hoes from the Arkansas River.
| Bison scapula hoes are a classic Plains Village artifact. They were used to plant and weed crops in light sandy soil. The Indians who used these were part time buffalo hunters, and part time farmers. This artifact shows the perfect complimentary blending of those two occupations. Hoes were made of smaller, usually female buffalo shoulder blades. The raised spine on the back was split off, and the tool was attached to a handle. Recycling was a way of life for all aboriginal peoples of North America. |
Fresh break on green bone
| The artifacts above are called beamers. They were used to scrape wet hides. The hide was placed fur side down over a log, and the beamer was used with two hands, like a draw knife. They are usually made of a deer leg bone, but can be made of any long bone. The top three are deer, the bottom is a young buffalo. |
| These interesting tools are called fore-leg choppers. They are usually made from the knee joint of a female buffalo, but can be made of other bones. They were used to cut the tendons holding the meat to the skeleton. Indian butchers stripped the carcass, like filleting a fish. |
| These are awls, used to punch holes in heavy leather. They are similar to the choppers above, but are smaller and terminate in a point. They are usually pretty roughly made. |
| The rib below was creased by a dart point as it passed between the ribs of this bison. The cut just fits a medium sized Pelican Lake, but could have been made by any type of dart. The nick is too large for an arrow point. A lot of information can be learned from bones, but you have to look close and pay attention! |
| The tool above is a shaft wrench. The are used to hold a arrow shaft straight after being heated in a fire. Straight arrows are essential for bow hunters. |