FAUNAL ANALYSIS OF THE SHEPARD SITE: A MIDDLE PLAINS VILLAGE ANCESTRAL WICHITA SITE IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA

Abstract

The Shepard site (34CU220) is an ancestral Wichita village located along a tributary of the Washita River in Western Oklahoma. It was excavated in 2001 prompted by destructive oil well pad construction. Radiocarbon dating places the occupation of the site within the Middle Plains Village period, specifically the Turkey Creek phase (AD 1250-1450), a time characterized by the re-intensification of bison hunting and a dependency on bison for subsistence. Through the analysis of the faunal assemblage, this research provides critical insights into the dynamic relationships between human societies and their environments, particularly through the study of bison. Employing socioecological systems theory and social zooarchaeology, this study examines how subsistence strategies shaped and were shaped by bison, reinforcing the interconnectedness of cultural identity and ecological resilience.