Archaeologica.org

For example, here's another bison skull.




The photo in question seems to be taken from behind...at least I THINK that the eye sockets are at the top. (They sure as hell are not apparent at the bottom of the photo.) Now, IF the animal was charging its eyes would be down and the horns pointing straight ahead and someone with a spear might see the top of the animal's head coming at them....if they weren't fixated on the horns.


Which is what I'd be doing after I finished wetting myself.

THE perfect spot to kill a bovine is to stick your spear or assegai or sword exactly between two specific vertebrae whence it will cut the spinal cord and pierce the heart and lungs in one thrust. That's a spot two square inches 'big' and obviously requires great precision to hit. Hit exactly that spot with your weapon and the beast is immobilized instantly. It falls down literally on the spot. Paralyzed. Sometimes dying in seconds. Often times not...
This thrust is every matador's supposedly 'special' talent... Which in itself proves that it's not so very difficult at all of course! As long as you have enough nerve (or perhaps you're really stupid enough) to let the beast come that close at full momentum...! Because if you miss...

About to strike, both very real terror (crapping himself) and overacted drama for the audience in his eyes:



The 'coup de grace':



And then it often still needs to be really killed. With a spike between the eyes...

dannan14 wrote:So the animal was led into a surround and the spear was cast from above. Perhaps from the top of a boulder or a ridge above the surround.

That I can see-Yes.

That middle pic is exactly what i meant, R/S.

The animal is charging with its head down, horns pointed straight ahead, and the top of its skull is exposed to the matador.

If our ancient matador was aiming between the vertebrae, he missed. Badly.

Wonder if he lived to try again?

Sam Salmon wrote:

dannan14 wrote:So the animal was led into a surround and the spear was cast from above. Perhaps from the top of a boulder or a ridge above the surround.

That I can see-Yes.

I can see it, too, but if you have the animal in such a situation why stick your spear through its head? You could just as easily stab it in the throat.

Minimalist wrote:

Sam Salmon wrote:

dannan14 wrote:So the animal was led into a surround and the spear was cast from above. Perhaps from the top of a boulder or a ridge above the surround.

That I can see-Yes.

I can see it, too, but if you have the animal in such a situation why stick your spear through its head? You could just as easily stab it in the throat.

Maybe the buffalo wasn't very happy about being penned up. He could have had a spear or two in him already. The human who made the throw might have tried for a better shot, but the animal was moving faster or in a different direction that he thought. i think that kind of scenario is actually more likely that a perfect throw to a vulnerable area.

From the Wikipedia link: The oldest arrowheads found in North America are from the Paleo time period dating back 9,000 to 15,000 years ago. Some of the more famous types include Clovis, Folsom and Dalton points.

I don't think any evidence shows bow and arrow technology in the Arericas prior to about 3K years ago. If they know of some, they should elaborate.

In an RV park with really crappy wifi in Benson, Arizona... spending the week exploring a Clovis site in Sierra Vista and lots of Pima and Mescalero Apache sites. Scurvy nomads...

No, the scarring in the bone is upwards if you look closely Dannan. This is beginning to sound like an episode of CSI!

Roy.

i guess i'm having a little trouble orienting the skull in my head. Is the point lodged between the horns? or on the side of the skull?

dannan14 wrote:i guess i'm having a little trouble orienting the skull in my head. Is the point lodged between the horns? or on the side of the skull?

Both, its on the top of the skull and into the horn.

Looks to me like the off side of the skull with the point embedded in the underside/front of the horn, that places the gouge in the skull as running upwards.
I think!
With a fresh look that could be the back of the skull. Anyone got another pic at all?

Which is what I'd be doing after I finished wetting myself.

Why wait?

Roy.

Some things can't be rushed, Dig.

Ageed. What was it Eartha Kitt claimed...

An Italian makes love at the drop of a glove but an Englishman needs time

...

Roy.

Perfect example.