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Horn Shelter Archaeological Site

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A short drive from the park, is the Horn Shelter Archaeological Site on the Brazos River.

Map Bosque Museum Horn Shelter

The Bosque Museum houses a collection of paleolithic artifacts from the Horn Shelter burial site located on the Brazos River near Clifton, Texas.

Bosque Museum

The museum collection includes a forensic facial reconstruction of the Paleoindian male buried around 10,000 years ago along with a young female.

Bosque Man

The museum's photograph of the excavated Horn Shelter archaeological site.

Horn Shelter Today

The museum's reconstructed burial scene at Horn Shelter represents one of the oldest sites containing full skeletal remains in North America.

Diorama Horn Shelter burial

Around the bodies lay a collection of delicately pierced shells presumably crafted for ornamental wear and decoration.

Recreated shells from Horn Shelter burial

Among the artifacts found close to the man’s skeleton were three perforated coyote teeth, which may have been strung on a necklace; four unperforated claws of a Swainson's hawk; and five badger claws, one placed within the mouth cavity.

Recreated items from Horn Shelter burial

One of the most unique artifacts is a small carved stone chiseled to possibly resemble an owl with traces of red ochre powder ground into its cracks and creases.

Recreated carved owlfrom Horn Shelter burial

Turtle shells were found stacked under and over the male’s face. In our story, they symbolize the man’s ability to turn inward for spiritual guidance.

Recreated turtle Shells from Horn Shelter burial

In addition to the ornaments, a cache of tools was found containing turtle shells, deer antler butts, sandstone grinding stones, a fragment of red ocher, a chipped-stone biface, and a long, slender deer bone.

Recreated skull from Horn Shelter burial

Mark provides perspective standing next to the life-size forensic re-creation of the 10,000 year old Bosque Man

Mark with forensic reconstruction of Bosque Man
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Shadow Trails A Paleoindian Journey through Ancient Texas