Lamb Spring
Encyclopedia
Lamb Spring is a pre-Clovis prehistoric Paleo-Indian archaeological site
located in Littleton, Colorado
with the largest collection of Columbian mammoth
bones in the state. Lamb Spring also provides evidence of Paleo-Indian hunting in a later period by the Cody culture complex
group. Lamb Spring was listed in 1997 on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, during a transitional period from Ice Age
to Ice Age summer. As the climate warmed, glacial run-off created lakes and savannas. At the end of the summer period the land became drier, food was not as abundant for large animals, and they became extinct. People adapted by hunting smaller mammals and gathering wild plants to supplement their diet.
Lamb Spring was an early to late Paleo-Indian site in Colorado, with Megafauna
bison antiquus
, camelops
, mammoth
and horse remains.
Mammoth bones at the Lamb Spring site may pre-date the earliest known human culture, the Clovis tradition, which started about 11,200 years ago. Mammoth bones at the site are dated at 11,735 +/- 95 years ago and 13,140 +/- 1,000 years ago. Many large bones appear to have been broken at the site, which may indicate butchery by early man. There were also some broken rocks with the bones, but it has not been determined that they were used as tools. It has not yet been conclusively determined to be a pre-Clovis site, but continued excavation may find pre-Clovis tools and evidence that more conclusively finds that the mammoth died as a result of hunting.
The camelop bones and artifacts date back to about 11,000 BC. The site has Colorado's largest collection of Columbian mammoth
bones. Pronghorn
and rodent
remains were also found. After 11,000 BC the climate changed and all of the megafauna except the bison antiquus were extinct. About 7000 or 6500 BC, Paleo-Indians hunted bison and smaller mammals at the spring.
Artifacts from the archaeological excavations are located at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
and the National Museum of Natural History
in Washington, D.C.
in 1995. Assisting them in the acquisition were the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
, Douglas County, Colorado
and the Smithsonian Institute. Free tours are available, May through October, on the 1st Saturday of the month. The tours are sponsored by the Conservancy and the Douglas County Community Planning and Sustainable Development department.
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
located in Littleton, Colorado
Littleton, Colorado
Littleton is a Home Rule Municipality contained in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Littleton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area. Littleton is the county seat of Arapahoe County and the 20th most populous city in the state of...
with the largest collection of Columbian mammoth
Columbian Mammoth
The Columbian Mammoth is an extinct species of elephant of the Quaternary period that appeared in North America during the late Pleistocene. It is believed by some authorities to be the same species as its slightly larger cousin, M...
bones in the state. Lamb Spring also provides evidence of Paleo-Indian hunting in a later period by the Cody culture complex
Cody complex
The Cody complex is a Paleo-Indian culture group first identified at a bison antiquus kill site near Cody, Wyoming in 1951.The tradition is generally attributed to the North American, primarily in the High Plains portion of the American Great Plains. The discovery of the Cody complex broadened the...
group. Lamb Spring was listed in 1997 on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Paleo-Indians
Paleo-Indian were primarily hunters of large mammals called megafauna, such as the Bison antiquusBison antiquus
Bison antiquus, sometimes called the ancient bison, was the most common large herbivore of the North American continent for over ten thousand years, and is a direct ancestor of the living American bison....
, during a transitional period from Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
to Ice Age summer. As the climate warmed, glacial run-off created lakes and savannas. At the end of the summer period the land became drier, food was not as abundant for large animals, and they became extinct. People adapted by hunting smaller mammals and gathering wild plants to supplement their diet.
Lamb Spring was an early to late Paleo-Indian site in Colorado, with Megafauna
Megafauna
In terrestrial zoology, megafauna are "giant", "very large" or "large" animals. The most common thresholds used are or...
bison antiquus
Bison antiquus
Bison antiquus, sometimes called the ancient bison, was the most common large herbivore of the North American continent for over ten thousand years, and is a direct ancestor of the living American bison....
, camelops
Camelops
Camelops is an extinct genus of camels that once roamed western North America, where it disappeared at the end of the Pleistocene about 10,000 years ago. Its name is derived from the Greek κάμελος + , thus "camel-face."-Background:...
, mammoth
Mammoth
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...
and horse remains.
Mammoth bones at the Lamb Spring site may pre-date the earliest known human culture, the Clovis tradition, which started about 11,200 years ago. Mammoth bones at the site are dated at 11,735 +/- 95 years ago and 13,140 +/- 1,000 years ago. Many large bones appear to have been broken at the site, which may indicate butchery by early man. There were also some broken rocks with the bones, but it has not been determined that they were used as tools. It has not yet been conclusively determined to be a pre-Clovis site, but continued excavation may find pre-Clovis tools and evidence that more conclusively finds that the mammoth died as a result of hunting.
The camelop bones and artifacts date back to about 11,000 BC. The site has Colorado's largest collection of Columbian mammoth
Columbian Mammoth
The Columbian Mammoth is an extinct species of elephant of the Quaternary period that appeared in North America during the late Pleistocene. It is believed by some authorities to be the same species as its slightly larger cousin, M...
bones. Pronghorn
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and...
and rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
remains were also found. After 11,000 BC the climate changed and all of the megafauna except the bison antiquus were extinct. About 7000 or 6500 BC, Paleo-Indians hunted bison and smaller mammals at the spring.
Discovery
In the summer of 1960, while constructing a pond at a spring on his property, Charles Lamb found mammoth tusks and bones from about 13,000 years ago. Also found were bison, camel, and horse bones. His find quickly initiated a series of archaeological investigations and excavations.Archaeological findings
A summary of archaeological efforts are:| Year | Name | Organization | Period and artifacts | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Dr. G. Edward Lewis | United States Geological Survey United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,... |
Identified mammoth Mammoth A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair... tusks and bones from the Pleistocene Pleistocene The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and .... period. |
|
| 1960 | Dr. G. Edward Lewis, Dr. Glenn Scott |
United States Geological Survey | Visited the Lamb Spring site and found bison Bison antiquus Bison antiquus, sometimes called the ancient bison, was the most common large herbivore of the North American continent for over ten thousand years, and is a direct ancestor of the living American bison.... , camel Camelops Camelops is an extinct genus of camels that once roamed western North America, where it disappeared at the end of the Pleistocene about 10,000 years ago. Its name is derived from the Greek κάμελος + , thus "camel-face."-Background:... , horse Horse The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today... , mammoth Mammoth A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair... , pronghorn Pronghorn The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and... , and rodent Rodent Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing.... bones. They also found, at the same depth and in the same sediment, late Pleistocene Pleistocene The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and .... era flint chips, meaning that the mammoth were likely hunted by Paleo-Indians. |
|
| 1961 | Dr. Waldo Wedel, Dr. Glenn Scott |
Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines... , United States Geological Survey United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,... |
Found bones from 5 mammoth from the end of the Ice Age Ice age An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers... , a little older than 13,000 Before Present Before Present Before Present years is a time scale used in archaeology, geology, and other scientific disciplines to specify when events in the past occurred. Because the "present" time changes, standard practice is to use AD 1950 as the origin of the age scale, reflecting the fact that radiocarbon... (about 11,000 BC.) |
|
| 1961-1962 | Dr. C.L. Gazin, Dr. Waldo R. Wedel Waldo Rudolph Wedel Waldo Rudolph Wedel was an American archaeologist and a central figure in the study of the prehistory of the Great Plains. He was born in Newton, Kansas to a family of Mennonites. In 1939 he married Mildred Mott, a fellow archaeologist and ethnohistorian... |
Smithsonian Institution | Eight geological layers were identified. Most of the remains found were from the earliest period, about 5-6 feet below the surface. The second deepest layer, dated about 6870 (+/- 350 years) BC, contained Cody complex Cody complex The Cody complex is a Paleo-Indian culture group first identified at a bison antiquus kill site near Cody, Wyoming in 1951.The tradition is generally attributed to the North American, primarily in the High Plains portion of the American Great Plains. The discovery of the Cody complex broadened the... projectile points and knife, bison remains, and other cutting and hide scraping tools. |
The project was by a National Science Foundation National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health... grant. Nebraska State Museum University of Nebraska State Museum The University of Nebraska State Museum, also known as Elephant Hall, is a natural history museum featuring Nebraska biodiversity, paleontology, and cultural diversity. It was founded in 1871... , United States Geological Survey United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,... and University of Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... personnel assisted in the excavation and analysis. |
| 1980-1981 | Dr. Dennis Stanford Dennis Stanford Dennis J. Stanford in Cherokee, Iowa is an archaeologist and Director of the Paleo-Indian Program at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution. Along with Prof... |
Smithsonian Institution | Found bones for 30 mammoth and evidence that they had been hunted and dated bones at 10,140-12,140 BC. Bison bones and Cody implements were found at the next most recent layer of sediment and remains. | |
| 2002 | Dr. James Dixon Dr. Paul Murphy |
University of Colorado-Boulder Museum Studies Program, Denver Museum of Nature and Science | Excavated a Columbian mammoth skull, likely a juvenile, dated about 11,000 BC. | The excavation and study were conducted with the participation of Douglas County and the Archaeological Conservancy. |
Artifacts from the archaeological excavations are located at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a municipal natural history and science museum in Denver, Colorado. It is a resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help museum visitors learn about the natural history of...
and the National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Lamb Spring Archaeological Preserve
The 32 acres around the Lamb Spring site was purchased by The Archaeological ConservancyThe Archaeological Conservancy
The Archaeological Conservancy is a 5013 non-profit organization that acquires and preserves archaeological sites in the United States. Whereas nearly every other nation protects all archaeological sites within its borders as part of its national patrimony, in the United States archaeological...
in 1995. Assisting them in the acquisition were the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a municipal natural history and science museum in Denver, Colorado. It is a resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help museum visitors learn about the natural history of...
, Douglas County, Colorado
Douglas County, Colorado
Douglas County is the eighth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado, in the United States. The county is located midway between Colorado's two largest cities: Denver and Colorado Springs...
and the Smithsonian Institute. Free tours are available, May through October, on the 1st Saturday of the month. The tours are sponsored by the Conservancy and the Douglas County Community Planning and Sustainable Development department.
Further reading
- Fisher, Jr., John W. N.D. Observations on the Late Pleistocene Bone Bed Assemblage from the Lamb Spring Site, Colorado. In Ice Age Hunters of the Rockies by Dennis Stanford and Jane S. Day, pp. 51-81. Denver Museum of Natural History; Niwot: University Press of Colorado, 1992.
- Fisher, Jr. John W., Dennis J. Stanford, Russell W. Graham, Linda S. Cummings, Scott A. Elias, Thomas W. Stafford, Jr., Gary Haynes, Peter H. McCarthy (1989) Unpublished National Science Foundation Grant Proposal. On file at University of Colorado Museum and Field Studies Program.
- Rancier, Jim. (1981) Field Note from Smithsonian Institution Excavations at Lamb Spring Site. On file at University of Colorado Museum and Field Studies Program.
- Scott, Glenn R. N.D. Geology of the Lamb Spring Site. Denver, Colorado: United Stated Geological Survey.
- Stanford, Dennis J.; Wedel, Waldo R.; Scott, Glenn R. (1981). Archaeological Investigations of the Lamb Spring Site. Southwestern Lore 47(1) March 1981 pp. 14-27.
- Stanford, Dennis J.; Fisher, Jr., John W. (1992) Analysis of the Lamb Spring Archaeological Site. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Studies Program. On file at University of Colorado Museum of Field Studies Program.
- Wedel, Waldo R. (1962) Unpublished Draft: Investigations at the Lamb Spring Site, Colorado. On file at University of Colorado Museum and Field Studies Program.