Posted on 05/14/2016 11:55:23 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The bone was found below a layer that contained material from the Pleistocene period when the last ice age was thought to have occurred. The archaeologists identified the bison using an upper molar, which is thought to be representative of a Bison antiquus, a direct ancestor of the American bison that roamed North America until it became extinct. Because bison was a grassland-adapted animal, nearly 100 percent of their bones disintegrated after death unless they were preserved in some way.
"This finding is especially significant because of the meticulous documentation that has been involved," said James M. Adovasio, Ph.D., principal investigator. "Along with the fact that bones like this have never been found on land as part of a calculated archaeological effort. Others like this have all been found underwater, in sinkholes or streams."
Bison antiquus, sometimes referred to as the "ancient bison," was the most common large herbivore of the North American continent for more than 10,000 years, and is a direct ancestor of the living American bison. They were approximately 8 feet tall, 15 feet long and weighed close to 3,500 pounds...
Scientists also found other bones at the site from small mammals, along with slivers of bones from large mammals that could have come from mammoth, mastodon, sloth or bison. Pieces of charcoal and the head of a fly were discovered earlier in this year's excavation, which began in late February.
The Old Man Vero Site was originally discovered in 1915 after construction efforts on a drainage canal exposed the well-preserved remains of late Pleistocene flora and fauna in association with human remains and artifacts.
(Excerpt) Read more at fau.edu ...
Kept scaring the camels
14,500 would put this before the time period described in the book at Comment #2 (a good read by the way). This event which probably occurred 2,000 years later may have caused a major die-off of very large mammals as well as humans. Florida was much bigger in those days as the ice caps were still in the process of melting. What is now everglades could have been grassy plains. A young friend has sold property in Miami and bought around Orlando since they fear that by the time their grandchildren inherit, Miami will be underwater. The link below shows various sizes of Florida. The second map, first row shows the outline of Florida 20,000ya with a dashed red line. The shrunken white Florida is ancient, but also reflects Florida with raised sea levels. The green and yellow map on the sixth row also shows ancient and modern borders. As you can see the ancient area is at least twice the modern area so areas now swamp would not be then.
Try driving between Melbourne and Kissimmee along 192. Lots of cattle grazing land. Deer, Bobcats, Crested Cara Caras, every type of hawk in the book, wild turkeys, wild bacon, and a Bald Headed Eagle that’s taken up residence around Harmony. Not so many bison though.
“They found bison and mastodon bones that dated to 14,500 and showed clear signs of human butchering.”
Was it the expiration date on the package wrapping that gave it away?
“...it’s hard to understand what a bison could have survived on, especially in the Vero Beach area.”
Maybe they were there on vacation—brought some food from up north in checked baggage.
Sorry, couldn’t help myself and I apologize for being a smart-a. Don’t know what got into me today. Your post was informative and I, too, am curious about these repeated discoveries in the southeast that predate the western states’ human settlements and suggest some humans might have been in the ice-free areas before the end of the last ice age. How did they get there, if they were there?
I used to surf next to the Melbourne Beach pier in the 60’s, but I never knew what was between I-95 and the Turnpike in that part of the state.
I always assumed the “natural” geography of Florida was beach, or flat sandy soil baking under subtropical sun, or swamps, or the Ocala National Forest.
“How did they get there, if they were there?” Pretty sure they had to change mammoths in Atlanta.
Thanks glee’.
Tame, housebroken half-ton bison for sale by Texas owner
almontealdia.com
Posted on 05/15/2016 8:37:11 AM PDT by BenLurkin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3430793/posts
I dunno.
Long-Horned Bison & Ancient Bison
http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/_extinct/bison_extinct/bison_extinct.htm
speaking of horns...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3430504/posts
Have you heard of these?
Bye, Bye Beringia (8,000 Year Old Site In Florida)
"At Windover, more ancient human remains were discovered than the total of all others found previously in the New World, and they were the oldest. "
BTW, I spent last weekend in Vero Beach.
That's a very interesting link.
I scanned a Wiki article about the Windover site.
There are four other known peat bog burial sites in Florida, but none as old Windover.
The dead would be wrapped in a plant based textile, then long stakes would be driven through the garment and into the peat, securing the dead to the bottom of the pond.
According to Wiki, there is a very common Native American belief that the spirits of the dead cannot pass through water. I guess that means the spirits are trapped in the pond?
Do you still have Eckerd Drug Stores in Florida? The Windover site was being developed by Jack Eckerd when the first bones were discovered. Eckerd immediately moved the road he was building and gave the site, plus a lot of pumping equipment, to the archaeologists. I thought that was pretty cool.
Ancient Humans, Dogs Hunted Mastodon in Florida
May 13, 2016 02:00 PM ET // by Jennifer Viegas
http://news.discovery.com/human/evolution/ancient-humans-dogs-hunted-mastodon-in-florida-160513.htm
doggie ping
Thanks BL!
http://news.discovery.com/human/evolution/ancient-humans-dogs-hunted-mastodon-in-florida-160513.htm
Don't know. I haven't lived there since 1975.
Good afternoon.
“Do you still have Eckerd Drug Stores in Florida? “
No, CVS ate them.
Still have a bunch of Eckerd things like college, venue, etc.
Kinda like Steinbrenner...
5.56mm
Not sure, their fossils look like Pluto and Goofy...
I actually stayed at Eckerd College on a church youth group weekend retreat in the early 60’s.
It was called Florida Presbyterian College at the time.
20th Century archaeology!
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