Nebraska's climate and terrain has changed frequently and dramatically over thousands of years. The ice age and snow
covered plains began to give way to warmer temperatures. The climate warmed and Men and Women began to make
Nebraska their home, and route of travel. Their origin and direction of travel is a topic of speculation and debate. Did they
slowly migrate from the far reaches of South America? Did they cross a land bridge from present day Russia into Alaska?
Did they use a boat and float from present day Europe along a receding ice shelf? Did they follow a kelp highway from the
Pacific Rim and present day Japan? Ancient spear points and tools are found throughout the plains and high plains,
sometimes found in situ with ancient animal bones. Commonly, these bones date to thousands of years old. Native
Americans occupied Nebraska and the surrounding states making their home along side the buffalo and other animals they
depended upon.
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Left: These three artifacts
date to possibly many
thousands of years ago.
They are thin and well made.
Courtesy:
Ron Van Heukelom
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Above: Gary and Deb Granger of South Central Nebraska spend a few
hours each month hiking the hills of Nebraska. In doing so, they have
collected and recovered a nice set of Native American Artifacts. The
pink or bubble gum colored artifacts are made of a material called
Flattop Chalcedony, found exclusively in Eastern Colorado.
Courtesy Deb and Gary.
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A beautiful Collection of
Western Nebraska recovered
Native American Artifacts,
found in the Sand Hills.
Courtesy Roy W.
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Right: Chase investigates a freshly dug basement for a new house in Northeast
Nebraska. We obtained land owner permission to investigate. Present are two ancient
hearth or fire pits. Several burned bones were recovered and identified as bison bones
by George Corner of the State Museum. Tiny pieces of pottery were located. The
cement foundation was poured the following day. This is a site of a former Omaha Indian
Village. Circa 1800.
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A Short Story of the American Bison.
For thousands of years, bison have been roaming Nebraska. As one species dies off and becomes extinct a similar smaller species replaces
the former. Bison Latifrons, Antiquus, Occidentalis, and present day Bison-Bison have all contributed intrinsically to the existence of Nebraska.
(There were hundreds of subspecies). Buffalo roaming free was last witnessed by our earlier generation(s), at about 1880. Only small captive
herds exist today on farms, ranches, and parks. Source: North American Bison by Dr. Jerry McDonald
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Above Left. Greg Brown, Chief Preparator of the UNL State Museum in Research and Collections, pauses for a moment next to a Buffalo skull
cap. For thousands of years, Bison have continued to grow smaller in size. Greg Brown and Curator of Collections Mr. George Corner of the
Museum are a wealth of information and most interesting to talk to. Above Middle. An ancient bison skull we found. Horn tip measurement is 28
inches. This guy is several thousand years old. Above Right. This recovered bison skull has a tip to tip measurement of 22 inches and comes
from the current species, bison-bison. Courtesy Kevin Young and Chris Merriam.
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Right. George Corner, UNL State Museum
Curator of Collections, manages millions of
bone specimens. Here he identifies prehistoric
bones that we brought in for identification.
George Corner and Greg Brown have assisted
the Sheriff's Office on a number of occasions
where bones needed to be typed as animal or
human.
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A large extinct bison skull that we
recovered in Nebraska. The tip to tip
length is 29.4 inches.
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A huge, ancient buffalo skull found in Minnesota by
Patrick Chereny. The horn core tip to tip spans 37
inches. Pat Cherney has documented a number of
bison findings in an informative book entitled; Notes
on Bison Remains from the Anoka Sand Plain Site,
MN. You can order a copy of the book for $15 by e
mailing Pat Cherney.
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These two ancient specimens are preserved and protected by The
Platte County Historical Society. The left skull is probably an
extinct Bison Antiquus Occidentalis, with a tip to tip measurement
of 31.5 inches. It is probably around 5,000 years old. Right,
probably a late Bison-Occidentalis or very early Bison-Bison at
28.5 inches. Thank you Jerry Kneifel of the
Platte County Historical Society.
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