Hudson Meng Bison Kill Site – Chadron, Nebraska
You will want to visit the world’s largest Alberta Culture bison kill site and museum. At Hudson-Meng you will experience a moment in time, discovering how early North American hunters survived 10,000 years ago. Capture their spirit, hear the story, learn about America’s prehistory, and the animals that roamed here. Hudson-Meng is the world’s largest Alberta Culture Bison Kill Site and bonebed.
About 10,000 years ago, a small band of nomadic hunters stampeded and slaughtered over 600 bison on what is now known as the High Plains of Nebraska. The bison kill ensured the hunters’ winter survival.
The large bone concentration began to reveal itself in 1954 during bulldozer operations to create an earthen dam. Construction of the multiple spring-fed dam was halted as discussions about the extensive bone field and the type of animal were held. Finally, it was decided the bones were probably sheep bones from a flock owned by an earlier rancher or homesteader.
A local rancher, Albert Meng, lived just west of the location. He was suspicious that the bones were bison, as they were too large for sheep, in his opinion. In 1968 they got professor from Chadron State College to look at the promising location. It wasn’t long before the base of a Knife River Flint artifact was uncovered, protruding from beneath bison ribs. That discovery, along with 19 Alberta points, was sufficient evidence to prove the site was an archaeological bison kill.
In the1990′s investigators totally reversed the previous evidence. They did so based on 13.5 square meters of bone deposits from an area that had already been exposed as one of the least productive portions of the kill site. Based on that 13.5 square meter exposure, the investigators decided there was NO human involvement, that it was a natural death assemblage, for which they proposed many causes of death, ultimately stating, "We will never know the cause of death".
Your Hudson-Meng experience will include a 30 minute guided tour of the immediate area and the enclosed bonebed, learning about the 10,000 year old Alberta Culture and the animals they hunted. You will have the opportunity to experience interactive museum exhibits, view videos and slide presentations, plus become acquainted with High Plains geology, biology, and botany.
Hudson-Meng Museum and Research Center
Open May 15th through Labor Day
Daily 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Last tour at 4:00 P.M.
Adult Rate….$5.00 (tax included)
Senior Rate…60 and over…$4.50 (tax included)
Kids…5-12…$3.00 (tax included)
Kids…4 & under…Free
Bus Tours: $2.00 plus tax
Family Groups-10-24 $.50 off each applicable age catagory
25+ $1.00 off each applicable age catagory
Hudson-Meng Annual Rate:
Individual: $15.00 (tax included)
Family: $25.00(tax included)
Universally Accessible
Junior Archaeologist Program
June 1-August 15 with required credit card reservation
$4.00 per child with paid admisson (tax included) One session daily, 2:00 P.M.
Reservation number: 308.665.3900 or 605.745.6017
Location: 125 N. Main St., Chadron NE
Phone: 308-432-0300
Related posts:
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Sterling Betts several years ago in Chaldron, Neb. He was a retired Geologist. I was honored when he gave to my grandson one of the buffalo ribs from the great buffalo kill 10;000 years ago. It was a part of his collection he had gathered during his time of working. He also gave my grandson several fossils and other artifacts that we still treasure to this day. . We had a wonderful 5 hour visit with Mr. Betts showing us his treasures. It was a highlight of our vacation. it was a chance meeting at the local Post Office mailing some cards home that I met him and he invited us to his home. My grandson has shown the rib to several of his teachers sionce then.
In the summer of 2008, I was able to work for a couple of weeks as an interpreter giving tours at Hudson-Meng. I’m somewhat disturbed that this website mentions only the research done in the 1990′s. Dr. Larry Agenbroad’s earlier research, and ongoing research by other archaeologists, shows definite proof of human involvement, including a point (essentially an arrowhead) imbedded in the ribcage of one of the bison. Tours given at the site emphasize that there was human involvement. It’s a great site and I suggest taking a tour to anyone — in particular to the authors of this site, so they can update some of their information!
I was there the day they found the large point & 2 small ones. Whenever they made a significant find, whoever was close to the pond got thrown in. I think Mr. Meng was thrown in about 3 times that day. He was loving it.
I was just wanting more info that’s all bill Hudson the mayor of Crawford is my grandfather and all I know is what I have been told. I just want info on my family. Thanks.
Bill Hudson. Found or helped find or what ever but he also found several hundred arrowheads in and around the area would like to find any info on that I can. The collection was in the Smithsonian. Would love any info anyone knows lots of potrey to I have one photo in the Smithsonian but can’t find anything else.
I would love to talk with any one who knew william Hudson of Hudson mengs. Site. Or any one who knew Frank o’rourke. They were taken out of my life before I knew anything of where I come from. My mother was Patricia Ann Hudson. Doughter of william Hudson and Ruth o’rourke Hudson e mail me @ doctor.d68@sprintblackbeery.net
This is a reach. As a freshman in high school, I got to dig at Hudson-Meng for the week-end! It was fantastic. I am trying to locate Peggy Corman, she mapped at that time, (and talked Dr. Agenbroad into letting me stay and dig). That was in 1973, or around there. Hopefully someone knows where I can reach her. Thanks!
I believe I know someone who can get you in touch with Peggy Corman. Bill Hudson was my grandfather. Send me your email or phone. Mom4js@hotmail.com.
While the contributions of Todd and Rapson in the 1990′s are very valuable, current research strengthens the theory put forth by Aggenbroad that this was a single kill event consisting of 1 kill event or possibly several smaller events over a period of a month or so. In its 9,800 and some odd years of existance, smaller events during 1 month should be considered a “single” kill. No evidance of envirmental cause such as a flash fire or flood has been found.
I heard (I don’t remember the circumstances) that the number of skulls located is significantly less than the probable number of animals found so far. That would seem to indicate human involvement in the removal of same from the kill site, perhaps for ceremonial reasons.
I ran across this article while looking for similar articles about bison kill sites in Alberta, Canada. As soon as I saw the title, I realized I had a modicum of first hand knowledge about the site. I clearly remember sitting in class listening to Dr Aggenbroad describing his find, and it’s potential significance. I never became a geologist, nor a paleontologist; but remember the many classes I took in Earth Sciences-probably because I found Dr. Aggenbroad to be an excellent teacher. With regard to the controversy, I certainly cannot speak from any factual standpoint. From a pejudicial standpoint, any theory advanced by Larry Aggenbroad deserves the attention and full consideration of the listener.
Two comments above also sparked my interest. Both Sterling Betts and Peggy Corman were my classmates. Sterling was actually one of my room mates in Rapid City SD, where we had been assigned for our student teaching rotation from Chadron State College. Sterling was an interesting and energetic guy. He was probably 35 years older than me, but wanted the formal scientific degree to match his lifetime of practical geological and archeological study. Its funny that just recently I remembered him and wondered what became of him. As for Peggy, I remember a bright and energetic beauty that made me wish I was not already a married man.