Gold Rush Byway
Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed, NE

Over 10,000 years ago, hundreds of bison were killed mysteriously at this ancient spring. Ongoing excavations may be viewed by the public when they are in session, and information provided helps visitors understand what happened. No one knows exactly what killed the 600 bison, but stone artifacts from the Alberta culture have been found at the site. The Alberta culture lived 8,000-10,000 years ago and the bison was their main way of survival. Other theories exist about what killed the bison. You might picture hundreds of bison being driven over a cliff, however, there is only a gentle rise near the site. Others have proposed that the bison may have been killed by suffocation in a prairie fire while huddled for protection or they may have been killed by lightning.