Publications
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump: The durative power of keystone institutions and embedded knowledge
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump demonstrates remarkable cultural continuity over at least 6,000 years, with its use as a buffalo jump remaining consistent despite technological and environmental changes. The site's durative power is attributed to its role as a keystone institution, where embedded knowledge acted as a social surplus, reflecting the heterarchical social complexity of its users. This study applies theoretical models used elsewhere in North America to understand HSIBJ's long-term significance, highlighting its unique cultural resilience and the preservation of knowledge across generations.
Ancient mitochondrial DNA extraction from Bison bison long bones from Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, UNESCO World Heritage site
Researchers analyzing ancient mitochondrial DNA from bison long bones at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump uncovered novel haplotypes that suggest significant genetic diversity loss among American bison prior to European contact. The study, which sequenced the control region of mitochondrial DNA from 21 bison remains, also identified shared haplotypes between ancient and modern populations, offering new insights into the complex history of living bison herds. This genetic bottleneck, likely caused by 19th-century population decline, provides a rare glimpse into pre-contact bison genetics and their resilience or vulnerability to historical pressures.
Mooring subjects of heritage: proprioceptive emplacement at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (HSIBJ) employs proprioceptive emplacement to immerse visitors within a heritage landscape that intertwines Blackfoot and settler-colonial narratives. The Interpretive Centre uses motion-triggered projections to anchor visitors in official national heritage narratives, confirming their subjectivity through physiological awareness of body position and movement. This proprioceptive grounding places visitors within an 'ancient' narratology of nation, addressing settler anxieties about latecoming status while reinforcing broader archaeological and heritage frameworks.
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