20MD534 FAUNAL REMAINS

By far the most common artifacts recovered from 20MD534 were faunal remains or bone fragments. These are food remains left by the occupants of the site. Almost all the animals in the forest and river are represented in the remains. The picture below illustrates the bones from a typical 5 cm level of one unit from the midden. Most of the bones are from deer but bones of other species (including bear and bird) can be seen in the lower left.

20MD534 MIDDEN FAUNA: UNIT 16N-10W, 45-50 cm

Dr. Terrence J. Martin of the Illinois State Museum (center picture on left below with Oxbow members John Osborne and Mary Wackerle) is identifying and studying the faunal remains from 20MD534. Dr. Martin comes to Chippewa Nature Center about once a year and does a faunal identification workshop with the Oxbow Archaeologists. The picture on the right illustrates some bones from a black bear paw identified at the 2003 workshop.

Some of the bones from 20MD534 were made into artifacts. The pictures below illustrate both sides of modified bone and antler fragments.

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