Bonfire Shelter, Texas – Legends of America
Nestled in the rugged landscape of southwest Texas, near the quaint town of Langtry, lies an archaeological treasure trove known as Bonfire Shelter. This remarkable site offers a captivating glimpse into the distant past, revealing a dramatic history of mass bison hunts orchestrated by early inhabitants of the region. What sets Bonfire Shelter apart is its location, far south of the Great Plains, where such bison jumps are typically associated with Native American tribes.
This expansive rock shelter served as a stage for a series of prehistoric bison jumps, dating back over 11,000 years to the Paleoindian era, a time when the last Ice Age was drawing to a close. During this period, the people of the time ingeniously devised a method to stampede herds of majestic buffalo over the edge of a cliff, sending them plummeting into a narrow box canyon that eventually emptied into the mighty Rio Grande. Bonfire Shelter holds the distinction of being North America’s southernmost buffalo kill site and the oldest known location of its kind.
A Dramatic Setting
To reach Bonfire Shelter, one must venture into the deeply entrenched Mile Canyon, situated south of Interstate 90 and just northeast of Langtry. Here, the imposing cliff face rises majestically above the landscape, concealing a vast rock shelter tucked away behind a massive rockfall. It was at this very spot that countless buffalo met their demise, plunging onto a rocky precipice at the entrance of the shelter. This sudden abundance of meat, hides, and bones provided the early hunters with a wealth of resources to sustain their communities.
Echoes of an Earlier Era
The significance of Bonfire Shelter extends beyond its role as a bison jump site. Archaeological evidence unearthed at the location reveals traces of even earlier human activity, dating back some 12,000 to 14,000 years. During this period, the site served as a butchering station for a variety of large, now-extinct game animals, including majestic elephants, woolly mammoths, camels, horses, and extinct species of bison. The kill site continued to be utilized as recently as 800 B.C., attesting to its enduring importance to the region’s inhabitants.
Unearthing the Past
The first systematic archaeological excavation of Bonfire Shelter took place in 1963-64, under the auspices of the University of Texas at Austin. This extensive research endeavor was undertaken in anticipation of the construction of the nearby Amistad Reservoir. Two decades later, in 1983-1984, another team of archaeologists from the University of Texas returned to the site to delve deeper into the deeply buried bonebed deposits.
Their efforts yielded remarkable discoveries, revealing five distinct layers of bone representing various periods of human activity. The oldest of these layers dates back over 14,100 years, providing invaluable insights into the region’s ancient history. The intermingling of bones from various species, along with telltale cut marks and breakage patterns, suggests that the site served as a butchering station for an extended period. The presence of large, anvil-like limestone blocks further supports this theory.
Climatic Shifts and Bison Movements
The story of Bonfire Shelter is intricately linked to the environmental conditions that prevailed in the region during prehistoric times. In the past, bison were not commonly found this far south, as the arid landscape lacked sufficient grass cover to sustain large herds. However, the bone deposits at Bonfire Shelter indicate that the region experienced periods of climatic change when it was less arid than it is today. During these wetter periods, bison herds thrived in the area, providing a crucial source of sustenance for the early inhabitants. As the climate shifted back to drier conditions, the bison retreated, and the site’s significance as a bison jump diminished.
Preserving a Legacy
In recognition of its historical and archaeological importance, Bonfire Shelter was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The site encompasses approximately 1,500 acres, all of which are privately owned, and access is restricted to protect its fragile archaeological resources.
Bonfire Shelter stands as a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of early human populations in North America. Its unique location, combined with its rich archaeological record, provides a valuable window into the lives and hunting practices of the people who once called this region home. As we continue to explore and study Bonfire Shelter, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay between humans, animals, and the environment that shaped the course of history in southwest Texas.
This remarkable site serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the past and the importance of preserving these fragile treasures for future generations to explore and learn from. The stories etched in the rocks of Bonfire Shelter offer a captivating glimpse into a world long gone, inviting us to reflect on the challenges and triumphs of those who came before us.