Bison, People, and Plains

Bison are icons of North American wildlife and have always played an important role to the survival of people on the Great Plains. Indigenous people in North America hunted and exploited bison in many incredible ways but also revered and respected these animals. They knew that when the bison thrived, so did they. In this episode, we will discuss the pre-colonial relationship between bison and humans on the Great Plains.
Patreon: / ancientamericas
Facebook: / ancientamericas ​
Sources and Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1j...
Prairie tanks in action: • Bison Fight for Mating...

[@danem.9402]

I wanna genuinely thank you. Your work has made me appreciate native history and culture much more than I did before, which is a real shame seeing how I’ve lived in Texas and New Mexico my whole life. Your Chaco Canyon episode really hit me hard because I visited some of those sites as a young child. These people, their cultures and histories should be required curriculum in our elementary and high schools. We focus too much on the frontiersmen and pioneers and too little on the amazing people and civilizations that were here before.

[@dickbutt8314]

I agree. I live in north Florida and so actually, education on indigenous peoples, and the Spanish (and French) colonization was actually decently covered, at least l for an elementary education. That being said, in middle and high school it basically was dropped from the curriculum. So while I was exposed to these concepts and interested in them at a young age, this is the first opportunity I’ve ever had to hear them discussed in an “adult”/academic sense. Thank you, Ancient Americas.

[@sadsaint3532]

His Hohokam episode hit the same for me as an PHX local!! Such important work

[@nickreif5355]

ABQ local, and it surprises me that chaco canyon isn't better well known in the country. Barely anyone in new Mexico itself talks about it, let alone knows it even exists.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@otherperson]

There's a reason theyre not taught in school, especially much of their modern history. It makes people uncomfortable.

[@Lala-io9gn]

I would absolutely ADORE an episode on indigenous fire regimes. In Southern Oregon, where I live, fire exclusionary policies have devastated our forests. Their composition has drastically changed from the drought and heat resilient pine stands, to overstocked mountaintops of Douglas-fir. This has resulted in a significant intensification of fires, and the deprecation of habitat and harvest-able tree girth and quality. I have a cursory understanding *that* local tribal groups used fire as a management tool, but the details, and broader context both within the local region and the entire continent is wholly lost on me.

[@NCRonrad]

Forgotten fires by Omer C Stewart is a fantastic starting point

[@JauntyCrepe]

@@NCRonradthanks for this. Added to my list

[@AncientAmericas]

You and me both. I've had that episode on my list for years. It'll get made someday!

[@AncientAmericas]

OMG! How did I not know about this book!? Thank you!

[@NCRonrad]

@@AncientAmericas it was purposely suppressed by his advisor, and has only found light again in the last 20 years due to M Kat Anderson and other archeologists further removed from the insanity of the 20th and 19th century. It’s a fantastic book! Great introduction short of actually learning from fire knowledge holders and communities themselves

[@haleyguthrie3113]

We are covering bison in my class this very week! From a small reservation school in the PNW, thank you! My kids always enjoy your videos.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you! I hope they enjoy it!

[@dascoug]

Bro I was getting ready for bed! Now I HAVE to stay up another 45 mins to savor this!

[@AncientAmericas]

Fear not, it will still be here tomorrow.

[@dascoug]

@@AncientAmericas yeah but it was worth staying up for

[@scottjannarone6622]

Big bison bros

[@jamalydude]

Bison gang, Ancient Americas gang

[@bizhiwnamadabi3901]

You sir gained another subscriber. I am Plains Ojibwe and Plains Cree from Manitoba. I love bison. My reserve has herd back home. We have two spirit bison as well. I like learning about Indigenous American history. I like learning about my tribal neighbors and tribes far from me like the Amazon and Central America. I just found this channel.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you! I'm very jealous that you got to grow up so close to bison. Must have been pretty cool to have them as a regular sight.

[@bizhiwnamadabi3901]

@@AncientAmericas oh hell yeah you bet. I know local historians and local tribal historians that I am related too. Used to hear stories and legends about the ice age and different time periods.

[@pauldickman4379]

Googling "spirit bison" and from context, the closest thing I can figure is it means they have white fur?

[@bizhiwnamadabi3901]

@@pauldickman4379 You wouldn't get it Mate.

[@pauldickman4379]

@@bizhiwnamadabi3901 Why? Is it hard to explain? I wasnt trying to offend by asking, just curious…

[@briantwiss9078]

A few years ago my brother and I were on a road trip in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He looks at me while I’m driving and asks if we’d see any bison in the Hills, I say “Probably not, they’re gonna be more in the plains, not up here.” Less than five minutes later I’m proven very wrong and we get a view of one of these beautiful creatures up close (without aggravating it, thankfully.) I’m so glad these animals are starting to come back in larger numbers!

[@AncientAmericas]

I've been to Custer State Park in the Black Hills and it's a beautiful place to visit. There's bison all over the place!

[@nancy-katharynmcgraw2669]

There are Bidon Ranchers, developing in the plains. CROSS TIMBERS BISON is one ranch Dusty and Melissa Baker are owners and KZbin Creators.

[@adamgreen9017]

You, miniminuteman, and Stephen Milo all helped me realize I wanted to pursue anthropology and archeology. I’m currently finishing my freshman year of college and couldn’t be any more appreciative of the research and work yall do.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks! That means a lot. Good luck with your studies!

[@guillervz]

Great career choice! I wish you all the best!

[@adamgreen9017]

@@guillervz thank you very much

[@hotmess9640]

Dude, unless your family is well off-*don’t do it* you’ll be poor. As a man you have to provide for your future family and you won’t be able to unless you strike the lottery or stumble upon a way to make it lucrative. Keep what you enjoy as a hobby and do what you can to make money.

[@adamgreen9017]

@@hotmess9640 shut the hell up with your *as a man* shit. I’m gonna do what I want to as a career because the career market is short archaeologists in almost every sector. I know the pay isn’t good. I made it through my first year of college staring at wages. The fun part is. My wife is allowed to make more than me

[@mrbigbadbearbear]

Bison east of the Appalachians are a fascinating and under-studied topic. Its unclear when they arrived, and they don't have a substantial presence in pre-columbian trash pits. But we do know they were there. In the Northeast and Midatlantic, troupes of between a dozen and fifty individuals frequently occupied savanna and river-bottom ecosystems west of the fall line. Its a really unique niche chapter of natural history that I hope gets more attention in the future.

[@adamosborn4194]

There is a podcast called "Bear Grease" by Clay newcomb. In one of his audio books he says that Bison numbers probably exploded to unnaturally high levels after around 1500 when natives died off from European contact and diseases. This then probably made Bison go more into the east then they had prior.

[@LeroyMclovin-dj9um]

I am a proud descendant of the Métis buffalo hunters. You mentioned First Nations tactics for hunting I've never even heard of before. Your videos are perfect for elementary/high school study. Thumbs up. Way better than the teachers stupid colonial rhetoric I grew up with.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@JonnoPlays]

It makes sense that the Bison weren't domesticated. The hunt would have been a group activity that involved multiple tribes and ritual behavior. Domestication and farming represent a paradigm change in religious practice and power structure and I would think society would resist this change rather than adopt it unless necessary.

[@AncientAmericas]

100% agree.

[@taxirob2248]

it probably helped keep peace between tribes like potlatches do

[@thongorshengar]

Ancient Americas kino just back on the menu boys 😍

[@premodernist_history]

Great video! Thank you for going into detail about Head-Smashed-In. That was really fascinating. I love this format of doing a deep dive into an animal resource.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you! This was a really fun episode to make. If you want to read up in depth on Head-Smashed-In, there's a very good book on it written by archaeologist and bison expert Jack Brink. Highly recommend it.

[@jackisblue5702]

Our reservation in town just got some bison a month or so ago and it brings me so much joy every time I drive past them in the fields ❤

[@l.mcmanus3983]

I grew up in Calgary Alberta and I remembered going on a field trip to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump. I don’t remember hardly a details though. I remember being surprised that it didn’t look like a very long drop, but I guess piles and piles of bison over so many years built up the base. I think they taught us about funnelling the bison, but your explanation really clarified it for me. I have a separate memory of sitting in a Teepee at the Glenbow museum and trying pemmican. Another class field trip.

[@AncientAmericas]

You had much cooler field trips that I did growing up.

[@matthewmann8969]

Bisons, Buffalos, Elks, Moose, Caribous, Bears, Cougars, Wolves, And Eagles are some of the most respected Non Humans by loads of Amerindian Tribes yeah.

[@ManoloElCerdo]

Agree, but Bison and Buffalo are the same. Buffalo is just how Europeans called them because of confusion with some french word (I think). Point is, bison = American buffalo

[@doktortutankamazon31]

All animals were respected. There was no " most respected".

[@SkunkApe407]

​@@doktortutankamazon31wrong. No other animal was as integral to the survival of Plains Natives as the bison. The bison is the most important aspect of Plains Natives lives, even as told by the people, themselves. Their folklore and lifestyles literally tell as much. Leave your white man's romanticism of my ancestors out of educated discussion.

[@SayWhut276]

@@SkunkApe407 Thank you, someone that gets it.

[@KrasseOdaVonBayern]

There are no Buffalo in America. Only Bison.

[@alanl.4252]

Can’t thank you enough for always making videos of indigenous North/South America! Great work as always!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@finlayfraser9952]

I am persuaded that the die off of the mega fauna was greatly influenced by the Younger Dryas asteroid impact, with the immediate physical carnage, and the consequent return to ice age conditions contributing to their disappearance. Amazing content as always, thank you.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@taxirob2248]

you probably should stop talking about an impact event until you find proof for it

[@SuperDave-vj9en]

@@taxirob2248 The Younger Dryas is a real fact of life, but the cause has been hotly debated. Personally I’m not a meteor impact supporter, but until more studies are done we really don’t know.

[@taxirob2248]

@@SuperDave-vj9en I did not deny the Younger Dryas, but citing an impact event is speculative. There is not enough evidence for an impactor, not even as a hypothesis.

[@the_chosen_one5642]

It was humans, climate change certainly had an impact but megafauna in africa (which would have evolved side by side with humans and therefore adapted to us) did way better than any other continent.

[@josh.wiggins8700]

Now THIS is how you start a weekend

[@Radar_of_the_Stars]

this video is so good, I was genuinely enthralled from start to finish

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@sagebalsys7390]

The genus bison is currently considered a synonym of bos (the genus that includes cattle, yak and gaur) based on the fact that it sits within bos genetically, unfortunately there is a bit of complication in the fossil record as *"Bison"* (the genus) is proposed to be the direct descendant of a completely different genus (leptobos) while there are bos species already knocking around.

[@taxirob2248]

is the genetic record clear or is there inter-species mixing?

[@JoshSmith-ff8dw]

You single-handedly ignited my interest in these subjects. It's so refreshing to see someone who is so passionate about what is basically another world to us. And you have that very sober scholarly sensibility that classes up the whole channel. Thank you

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@Pahskwahknahpew]

Man I can’t express enough how much your work is appreciated. it’s hard to find legit information on Native American History, and a lot of the videos out there go about talking about these things in a mysterious/stereotypical kind of way. The way you go about presenting the information during your videos shows how realistic, curious, insightful, and respectful you are towards the cultures/people/topics you decide to cover. Your channel has been a gem for a while and it doesn’t seem to be letting up soon so thank you for that. if only everyone had your level of consideration!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@LeortisBooks]

Oh shit! My favorite channel

[@mathmeetsmusic]

I appreciate your videos and the format you retain. Your videos have improved my life and perspective.

[@briannelyons1421]

Applause! I visited HSI Alberta as a teen, and it has stuck with me ever since living in alaska and hunting forest bison there gave me even more respect and awe of our ancestors. this was a very great episode of your wonderful channel. thanks!

[@Replicaate]

Had no idea that the call for bison conservation started all the way back in the 1900s, I would’ve thought that was a much more recent thing. I guess seeing such an iconic, special animal disappear so fast horrified even non-indigenous people back then.

[@SuperDave-vj9en]

Years ago I checked out a book from the local library that was an in depth review about the American Bison, and was approximately 400 pages long. I remember that there were accounts of Bison being in New York State to the East and reports verified of Bison being in the Eastern side of Utah State. So the reference of there being 60,000,000 of those accounts is basically true and correct. Your brief article about Bison is very interesting and informative. Thank you very much for your research, knowledge and informative discussion. Much appreciated!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@Justpuffin4]

Thank you for the episode!!!!

[@thefisherking78]

We really did the bison dirty, but I'm glad conservation efforts are proceeding

[@canaanval]

Awesome late night release from one of the best channels on KZbin!!!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@matowicakte]

been waiting for this topic🙏looking forward to the next one

[@balancehd5657]

I absolutely love your content and get so excited when a new video drops. Keep up the amazing work!!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@peteronyoutube612]

Thank you for another excellent video! I didn't know how interested I was in this subject matter until I discovered your channel.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@DivaMomochi]

Please tell me more about the crazy speed of those prairie fire. Love a Texas Panhandle resident who was stuck in town due to the fire at the end of February. But for real, it was burning 2 football fields a second.

[@EmpticStudios]

Thank you for always making great videos and sharing your thoughts🌵❤️

[@papasquat3882]

I grew up just down the way from a ranch that had a bunch of bison on it. Always thought they were cool, but I heard some stories of them being pretty destructive when they got out of control a few times and busted through fences. Always been my fav animal, definitely a sort of awesome symbol of the West.

[@OrbitalLizardStudios]

Amazing episode. And i'm extremely excited about the next episode. I've been hoping for videos on the indigenous peoples of the Great Plains for a while

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@portalthefella]

wooo! great new video! glad to see you make another! keep it up!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks Portal!

[@robertwesley4780]

finally.....I have been waiting since the beginning of the month....am hooked

[@zinger2967]

Great video! I’ve been to Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump twice and I want to go back. It’s an amazing archeology site and seeing the topography in person really gives you an idea on why it was used as a jump.

[@AncientAmericas]

I really hope I can see it someday!

[@zinger2967]

@@AncientAmericas If you ever head to Alberta I also recommend Old Women’s Buffalo Jump and Dry Island Buffalo Jump. They don’t have museums like Head Smashed-In but they are still worth visiting.

[@feartheamish9183]

The americas have a wealth of history that is barely known outside of academia. Thank you for creating something like this

[@johanstefonski401]

Incredible episode. Fantastic work, as always.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@Grace-ms7un]

Currently binge watching all your videos ❤

[@matthewhuang9588]

I love this channel and this episode particularly

[@Partypoopersgroup]

Excellent. Another science communicator to add to the list. Excellent work, people like you are what we need more of.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@DavidJamesHenry]

I needed a channel like this!!!

[@AlmightyRawks]

Amazing detailed video, I really enjoyed learning about all the tactics involved!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@AskTorin]

Absolutely amazing stuff. Living wholly around bison is such a knotted and quirky way of life, but louds great.

[@TKTK-zx2xt]

Thank you so much for each video, you have taught us all so many incredible things! You are an inspiration and have one of the best channels out there! ❤😊❤

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@SLDFMechWarrior]

Wooo A new Video and about bisons Let's go

[@shzarmai]

I also hope we see more RPGs in the future based on or focused on the Pre-Columbian American Southeast as well as on Cahokia. Imagine an alternate history video game in which Cahokia survived or one where a Cherokee-Creek Confederacy was formed and was able to establish an independent recognized Native American sovereign state that modernized & industrialized.

[@bipedalcynodont962]

I LOVE BISON, thank you for this video! Since I first watched your videos about 1 1/2 years ago (which you may remember from me commenting that "Paracas" sounded like "Pirakas"), I've grown to officially LOVE learning about history. UNFORTUNATELY, Europe, Oceania, and especially Africa are SO AWESOME in that regard that I've kind of shut myself off from learning the history of the Americas and Asia (unless if, for the latter, Madagascar and/or Mapungubwe are involved), but maybe watching your videos again will change that!

[@gerardgearon4206]

Absolutely adore all your videos, great narration. Many thanks from England.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@b.c4440]

Please do the fire episode. That sounds fascinating!

[@AncientAmericas]

I've had that episode on my list for years. It'll get its turn someday.

[@charlynegezze8536]

Always fascinating and entertaining. Thank you for your wonderful work.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@christopheraustin643]

Great video! I'm from Montana and the more I learn about precolonial history the more I can't get the amazing people of this land out of my head. I can't unsee the signs from where I grew up that people had been there so much longer than I was taught. The indigenous genocide haunts me quite a bit lately.

[@veggieboyultimate]

You know do you think you can do a video on the extinct animals that the native Americans would have encountered and hunted?

[@millenials_best]

I'm sure prehistoric peoples were also hunted by a select few extinct animals. He could make several videos of this in seperate time frames that would look totally different

[@NCRonrad]

Parrots used to inhabit far more of the North American continent. Both important obviously for ecology but also as part of society and cultural significance. Then the ecological destruction wrought by settler colonials depopulated the birds from Nebraska to New York, making their only habitats down south and coastal.

[@Fab-n-dabKev]

​@@NCRonrad my moms comanche ( we i mean, itsa taa numunu) and I heard stories of heirloom shields and pendants with man hair and parrot and quetzal feathers and abalone pieces that were almost definitely traded for or gathered on an expedition south. More than likely in a private collection somewhere now, this was before the Indian schools took over so it was probably stolen and traded. my gramma and great uncle were taken from their folks because they didn't speak English and sent to live with a white Christian family that were shitty then they were saved by a Korean missionary family of all people and were raised with love from those people.

[@AncientAmericas]

That would be a cool video.

[@NCRonrad]

@@Fab-n-dabKev sad but also glad they were saved. Sounds like an incredible set of family items too. In the four corners, Zuni, Hopi, Navajo take note and remember the “rain birds” parrots and other birds who always fly ahead of rain clouds. In addition to the macaw feathers (this is the first I hear of the Quetzal feathers this far up! But not surprised other considering the chocolate found hundreds of miles away from the Yucatán)

[@byronholmes2496]

Good day to all. Thanks, I love the information and bove all the bison.

[@huitzilinf_art]

I always wanted to learn more about native people on the plains so I really appreciate these videos!

[@AncientAmericas]

Just wait until the next video! More people and more plains!

[@kahwigulum]

absolutely fascinating thank you for this video and the knowledge you have provided

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@terrywallace5181]

Another enjoying able and informative video!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@joshwing5133]

love your content dude. would love to see that indigenous fire regime episode!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks! I've had that episode on my list for years. Someday it'll get made.

[@TheGonzanator96]

As always, this is phenomenal. You’ve really opened my eyes to how vibrant native cultures and environments are! You lose perspective when stuff is in your back yard.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@milanpiller9067]

I love learning about animals and histpry, especially bizon amazing video!

[@Gorlim_the_Unhappy]

This is phenomenal content. Thank you for your efforts and dedication to historical accuracy. There is so much false mythology and speculation concerning American bison out there. You clearly did your research! Thank you for educating us on this beautiful facet of American history!!!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@AlexDangerJohnson]

This video was an absolute banger. Bison are a huge part of the iconography here in south dakota, and i know a few ranchers that have them. They are awesome animals!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@justdrums8273]

OMG Im so happy you included sorces! Im making an Atlas for a class and theres this whole thing im doing about the relation of humans and "cows" in art during history

[@AncientAmericas]

Happy to help!

[@Toxicpoolofreekingmascul-lj4yd]

Near Chicago a bison herd is being established at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and a large one is established at the Kankakee Sands preserve in northwest Indiana. People in the city can see real Bison in nature within a 1 to 2 hour drive.

[@AncientAmericas]

I actually grew up pretty close to there and never knew about it until I started doing research for this episode. The next time I'm back there, I'm hoping to go see it.

[@Toxicpoolofreekingmascul-lj4yd]

@@AncientAmericas The most reliable place is Kankakee sands off highway 41 by the red buildings, the nature conservancy headquarters. I see them there more often than at the overlook and there's a nice wide shoulder to pull over on. It's right by my favorite campground so I pass it a lot. I always stop to admire them if they're around. Midewin is really much more hit or miss.

[@ms_cartographer]

Best history youtube channel.❤

[@AncientAmericas]

Best comment!

[@coyote4237]

Thank you. Havre, Montana, has a pretty cool Bison jump, too. Tours were available when I was in college in the 80s. Not sure if those are still available.

[@mphillips4915]

Definitely my new favorite AA video!

[@AncientAmericas]

Favorite animal = favorite video.

[@patrickotis3884]

Thanks!

[@AncientAmericas]

You're welcome!

[@HTJB60]

I'm British and 'old' ! and for some strange reason my two favourite animals are North American Bison & Armadillo's. I was mighty disapointed when seeing an Armadillio in Florida, that it was so small. And told the big one's were in Texas. {Where else?}. A very enjoyable program. Some 25 year's ago I use to import Native American, South Western & Western Artifact's, Pottery & Gift's in to the UK to sell at Country Music Festival's. I've alway's had a facination with the West, particulartly with the Native American's.

[@hase.von.b]

gracias por tu trabajo!

[@AncientAmericas]

De nada!

[@sunlitsoiree]

omg im so excited to watch this !!!!!!!! i love the plains XO !!!!!!

[@OfRightWay]

I've just started watching your videos and love them so much! Would you consider making a video about the Chickasaw tribe, if you haven't already?

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you! I don't see why not. They'll just have to wait their turn.

[@bizhiwnamadabi3901]

After watching this video. Im just thinking how did you gained this knowledge? Who told you our secrets? because you did a great job at covering the topic. I love it. Respect man.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thanks! You are too kind.

[@FEEDMEKITTENS]

Growing up I was lucky enough to live close enough to be able to visit HSIBJ several times. Looking back it was really a key core memory that must've kickstarted my love of archaeology and history. Thank you so much for this look at it! It's been a couple decades since I've been able to visit, but I need to go back.

[@lucienarcos-palma3834]

For those who speak french or german , arte made a documentary of the history of the bison, and used this history to tell the storie of the natives and the storie of the american colonisation, very interresting

[@jeebusk]

arte huh...

[@lucienarcos-palma3834]

@@jeebusk ?

[@gequitz]

10/10 vid! It's hard to think of people more badass than Bison Runners!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@kidmohair8151]

we may not know for a few decades to come, just how lucky we are, to still have bison around. and how much we may as a species will have to rely on them. again.

[@Bowie.]

Thx for this. I don't know why but I've always loved and respected buffalo.

[@AdmiralWololo]

Great video, as usual

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

Fascinating!

[@kekero540]

The fact that becoming a horse nomad was such a fun way of life that several people groups just mass migrated to do so.

[@Replicaate]

It’s not dissimilar to what some archaeologists think happened in copper age/Bronze Age Europe and Asia, interestingly enough! The short version as recounted by me( not a historian)is that basically though farming grain/plants and sedentary lifestyles were established first, after horses were domesticated it made herding large herds of animals like cattle much easier, and these new nomad pastoralist people could just move if they ran out of grass or water fort their animals while the farmers were stuck if their crops failed. So they think a lot of the early farmers just might’ve abandoned their villages and become nomad horse/camel/cattle/reindeer herders because it was a lot more return for less work compared to growing cereal crops. Not surprising that natives in the Americas would’ve ditched their old ways once they saw how well being a nomad on horseback was working for others!

[@ekothesilent9456]

@@Replicaatealthough native Americans never had a history of agriculture or crop raising. They naturally began as nomadic and stayed that way until their lifestyle was…. Deleted, to put it kindly.

[@AncientAmericas]

I mean, why not?

[@lenabreijer1311]

​@@ekothesilent9456they most certainly had agriculture. The east coast native people taught the first pilgrims how to farm the new world crops. Corn was domesticated in central America and moved north all the way up to Canada. Most east coast native people were the equivalent of European neolithic farmers.

[@otlatoca4004]

⁠@@ekothesilent9456you must be new to this channel if you think native Americans don’t have a history of agriculture. From Cahokia to Tenochtitlan to the Andes, you can find sophisticated agricultural systems lol.

[@My_Anarchist_Superhero]

It’s a simple Principle; Ancient Americas calls, I answer. With Respect ✊, Gang Gang🫡 Knowledge Is Power

[@rockthered8706]

I’ve been to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump in southern Alberta twice in my life. Once as a child on a road trip with my grandparents and again as an adult with my GF as I insisted we go there as we were planning on driving more or less past it on a road trip we went on last summer. Each time I was struck with awe at the ingenuity of the practice. I highly recommend to anyone to actually visit some of these sites, at least the one I went to had a great little museum to accompany the archeological site as well as many trails to explore. Next time I go there I will make sure I have more time than I did when I was last there. We were on a tight schedule and I didn’t get to appreciate the site to its fullest as a result as we needed to make it to the campground in the mountains in time.

[@AncientAmericas]

I'd love to visit it someday!

[@mathiasmueller9693]

Awesome video!

[@Eulemunin]

Great to see the understanding of technology and intelligence of the Natives on display. We need to get out in our local communities and see the incredible infrastructure left behind by them.

[@brettkeeler8822]

Fascinating. There’s an area not far from me with a wild heard. They are majestic and intimidating up close (but not too close)!

[@AncientAmericas]

That's really cool. Definitely keep your distance though. I always cringe when I see people in national parks getting close to bison. Those things can wreck your day in the blink of an eye.

[@ethanmcconkey100]

You care about such beautiful things, how do you go about making it so that you can dedicate your whole focus to such beautiful things? How can you create more space for beautiful things to exist and be appreciated in the future?

[@AncientAmericas]

That's a very good question and I wish I had a simple answer.

[@Great_Olaf5]

9:43 Thank you! Both for talking about the ridiculousness of those two reasons why they weren't and one of the big real reasons they weren't. Though it should also be noted that domestication is rarely a conscious process, people don't generally decide "I'm gonna go domesticate those deer," they engage in practices which, cumulatively over time, lead to domestication. It's not a conscious thought that "They're so abundant, we don't need to domesticate them," is subtler than that. Had the natives remained isolated, I rather suspect bison would have been domesticated as the demands pressures from increasing populations of settled people caused that industrialization you talked about to shift into something else. I could see the corrals becoming less pens to exhaust and kill your bison, and gradually shifting into more permanent structures. If following the herds wasn't an option without horses, it might be more practical to stay in one smaller area with a captive herd, culling more sheathe individuals to minimize the risk up both the hard and the handlers, in other words, artificial selection.

[@Andy_Babb]

Awesome episode! Still hoping for a video on the paleo Indians of the Northeast!!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@bigboy379]

Heck yeah new video 🎉

[@user-to2gh7sg3l]

Buffalo Jumps are also called Buffalo Bumps. Bumps are actually a more accurate term because the first ones to come to bluff or cliff edge weren't just running off in death leaps. They would come to a quick halt only to be "Bumped" off the edge by the momentum of the herd behind them.

[@SCIFIguy64]

You absolutely need to talk about the Pueblos and Mesa Verde cliff dwellings. Maybe a special in Taos where people still continue to live?

[@AncientAmericas]

We'll get there someday.

[@historybuff7491]

Good info.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@andrewmcdonald8783]

Excellent presentation. The various preconceptions, overturned by meaningful evidence, was worth it alone. At a current pop of 360k, I wonder what that number will top off at? Certainly not 30 mill, but whatever it is, this part of our collective legacy is here to stay. Survivors, indeed!

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@GringoLoco]

Great video! Interesting as always. I didnt know the bison pelt was ten times more insulating than a regular cow. No wonder the prairie people valued them so much.

[@AncientAmericas]

Thank you!

[@pozzowon]

1:57 does Mr Bison from Street Fighter have a separate genus?

[@AncientAmericas]

M Bison Vegus.

[@noahlogue]

OF COURSE!