Giants of the Plains: Mammoth Kills and Paleoindigenous Lifeways with Dr. Madeline Mackie - Plains 24

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover is joined by Dr. Madeline Mackie, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Michigan State University, to explore the archaeology of mammoth kill sites in the Northwest Plains.

Dr. Mackie walks us through what makes a site a “kill site” and how archaeologists determine whether mammoths were hunted by humans or died naturally. She shares insights into the types of tools, bone modifications, and site features that point to deliberate human activity—offering a glimpse into the complex and skilled lifeways of Paleoindigenous peoples.

The discussion also highlights what these mammoth kills reveal about how early humans adapted to shifting environments at the end of the Ice Age, providing crucial context for understanding the transition into the Archaic period. Dr. Mackie closes with a call to action: the Plains needs more archaeologists dedicated to uncovering and interpreting the Archaic period—one of the most understudied and dynamic chapters of Indigenous history.

Transcripts

For a rough transcript of this episode, head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/24

Links

• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

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