The Milnesand site: Site formation study of a Paleoindian bison bonebed in eastern new Mexico

In 1953, E. H. Sellards directed excavations at the Milnesand site in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. Sellards and later researchers have taken a multidisciplinaty interest in the Milnesand site, examining geomorphological, paleontological, and lithic artifact databases. Unfortunately, the analysis of the faunal remains from the site has been minimal. The present study is based on a 1993 examination of the bison remains from the Milnesand site. While there are many "problems" with the faunal assemblage-such as poor faunal preservation and biased collection methods-an attribute-based taphonomic analysis can contribute important information on skeletal element frequencies, herd composition, seasonality of occupation, and site formation processes. Analysis shows that the Milnesand bonebed represents a winter and/or spring kill site involving numerous animals that were incompletely butchered following the kill. A gradual burial of the bonebed, interrupted by numerous periods of exposure, resulted in extensive dispersal of the carcasses and the relatively poor condition of the faunal remains.