Tatonka

[zicker]

While pushing a bush this year hunting tripped over this in a river bank which has been dried up for many years. Sent measurements to Royal Alberta Museum Curator and this was his response


Looking at the pictures and the measurements, the skull falls at the very large end of modern Plains bison, and within the known size range of woodland bison (which would be interesting). My guess is that it’s probably the extant form (Bison bison bison), but a specimen with some age. I’ve collected similar skulls that approach 5,000 years old. Based on the preservation, my instinct tells me that you’ve found something a little more recent, on the order of a couple thousand years old. The only way to know for sure would be via radiocarbon dating.


Thought this was pretty neat , thought I would share with all you outdoorsmen.

[Vigilante]

That is pretty cool!

[silverdoctor]

Neat find.

[gitrdun]

Very neat indeed. Great find.

[saddleup]

Really neat find.. musta been on the Milk River? One has to wonder how they can be preserved for thousands of years like that.--------- and we can't make a vehicle last 5 years???? lol

[bison]

What is the tip to tip measurement?

[chewydog]

Nice find! I had probably half a dozen as a kid, but gave them all away!

[Red Bullets]

Excellent find.


Back in the day the prairies were covered in buffalo bones. They were gathered up by settlers in the 1890's and sent east by train to be ground into fertilizer. Where the traditional river crossings were for the buffalo you can still find such things submerged in the rivers. Odds are there are more bones and skulls where you found the skull. Worth going back to the spot and looking around more.

These old pics just amaze me.

I have a friend that found a bison skull plate with a 3 inch stone arrowhead stuck in the forehead. Very old. Museum quality. Found in central Alberta.

[pgavey]

Big tatonka.

[Sooner]

Great find for the man cave.

[zicker]

Originally Posted by bison

What is the tip to tip measurement?

Tip to Tip is 27 " and base circumference in 12 7/8 "

[HappyShootMore]

Awesome find

[diamonddave]

Pretty cool addition to the collection for sure.

[58thecat]

Nice find

[Selkirk]

That's quite the find! Thanks for sharing.

There's likely more to be found in that same area ... a good excuse to go back there again in the spring.

Good Hunting,

Mac

[Bigwoodsman]

Cool find, Thanks for sharing.

BW

[Jack Hardin]

About 10 years ago, friends of ours canoed down the Red Deer River from the bridge east of Trochu down to Drumheller. They found two sticking up in sandbars.

[bison]

Originally Posted by zicker

Tip to Tip is 27 " and base circumference in 12 7/8 "

I have a bison skuII that measures tip to tip 29 1/2", base 11 1/2". This buII was onIy 7 years oId when he kicked the bucket 4 years ago.
i have a hard time beIieving the skuII you found is 5000 years oId.
I wouId not be surprised if that BuII was stiII waIking around in the Iate 1800's.

[happy honker]

Great find !

At the rodeo Hall of Fame in Ponoka is another old massive skull that was preserved in the roots of a tree.
The Hay family found it on their land near Mayorthorpe and donated it to the Hall as a really cool art piece...check it out if your ever near Ponoka.

[Grizzly Adams]

Thinking last Springs floods probably washed it out of the river bank. We picked up several skulls and other bones in the Red Deer river valley that were exposed that way.

Grizz

[zicker]

Originally Posted by bison

I have a bison skuII that measures tip to tip 29 1/2", base 11 1/2". This buII was onIy 7 years oId when he kicked the bucket 4 years ago.
i have a hard time beIieving the skuII you found is 5000 years oId.
I wouId not be surprised if that BuII was stiII waIking around in the Iate 1800's.

Who said it was 5000 yrs old?

[Selkirk]

Originally Posted by bison

I have a bison skuII that measures tip to tip 29 1/2", base 11 1/2". This buII was onIy 7 years oId when he kicked the bucket 4 years ago.
i have a hard time beIieving the skuII you found is 5000 years oId.
I wouId not be surprised if that BuII was stiII waIking around in the Iate 1800's.

Originally Posted by zicker

Who said it was 5000 yrs old?

No one!

And Bison needs to re-read post #1

Mac

[bison]

Originally Posted by MacLeod

No one!

And Bison needs to re-read post #1

Mac

Sorry, me bad.
In any case i think a coupe thousand years is stiII a stretch, me thinks that skuII is not even 200 years oId

[zicker]

Originally Posted by bison

I have a bison skuII that measures tip to tip 29 1/2", base 11 1/2". This buII was onIy 7 years oId when he kicked the bucket 4 years ago.
i have a hard time beIieving the skuII you found is 5000 years oId.
I wouId not be surprised if that BuII was stiII waIking around in the Iate 1800's.

Originally Posted by bison

Sorry, me bad.
In any case i think a coupe thousand years is stiII a stretch, me thinks that skuII is not even 200 years oId

Don't forget the guy who I emailed is the head curator of the Royal Alberta Museum. Not arguing, but I will take his expert opinion when it comes to aging this skull. Merry Christmas

[super7mag]

Hey Zick , merry Xmas . Cool find !!!

[bison]

Originally Posted by zicker

Don't forget the guy who I emailed is the head curator of the Royal Alberta Museum. Not arguing, but I will take his expert opinion when it comes to aging this skull. Merry Christmas

That is OK with me.

Merry Christmas to you as weII

[zicker]

Originally Posted by super7mag

Hey Zick , merry Xmas . Cool find !!!

You as well , enjoy the break bud