What’s the coolest thing you found in the back country

[grfox92]

I really regret not turing around to take a picture but figure its cool enough to share.

There is a cave right off the highway and right next to the river in my area that was a major archeological sight back in the 60s. It is a huge rock outcropping that provided enough cover and overhang for a few dozen people to call it home. It was inhabited on and off by several different Native American tribes for for around 9000 years, up until approximately 1580 AD.

Inside the cave was a petrified body of a Native who died appropriately 1200 years ago, tons of materials like arrows with intact feathers, woven baskets, nets, and beads. Inside the cave was also a huge collection of skulls and bones from, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, bear, and just about every species that inhabits the area

Anyway, I was driving by the cave today and always turn to look at it. Right there off the road was the biggest wild Bison I have ever seen. Slowly sauntering right past the mouth if the cave.

It made me wonder how many times that happened during the 9000 year period ancient hunters called that cave home, and how many buffalo died walking by that cave.

Pictured below is me and my son at the mouth of the cave.

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[tuffcrk14]

Is that preserved hair?

No, there was not any preserved hair that I saw. I did find pieces of horn, 4-6 vertebrae still held together, and bones from a small buffalo fetus though. Finding that skull inspired me to read “American Buffalo” by Steven Rinella. It’s an incredible read!

 

[TheGrayRider]

I found an 1853 US Braided Liberty One Cent coin this week at the old pioneer homestead in North Central Indiana after recent heavy rains.

173 year old coin and probably my best free range find at this site on private land. Minted in Philadelphia when Franklin Pierce was President. Also, my first pre-Civil War find that I can actually date and document.

Good luck and happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.