Archaic Hunting Practices Depicted In A Northwestern Plains Rock Art Style

Abstract

A collection of about 75 panels of pecked rock art from the southern Black Hills, South Dakota and Wyoming, includes detailed depictions of Archaic period communal game hunts. The rock art illustrates use of artificial enclosures, atlatls, and other hunting paraphernalia. Humans in costumes or disguises are also included in the scenes. The communal hunting techniques detailed in the rock art imply a social organization capable of maintaining a high degree of cooperation and careful indoctrination in hunting skills. Both the quality and the content of the rock art suggest the prehistoric presence of part-time artistic and ritual specialists. The overwhelming preponderance of deer (ca. 64 percent of fauna depicted) is inconsistent with current views on Northwestern Plains Archaic subsistence that assume a bison-based economy.

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