Making Use of Caribou Capturing and killing the caribou were only the first parts of the hunt.  Butchering the meat, processing the hide, and preparing parts for later use were difficult tasks that required specialized skills and knowledge. Experienced hands and a thorough knowledge of the caribou’s anatomy enabled people to butcher the carcasses efficiently.  For heavy-duty work such as butchering the ribcage, the people employed large stone chopping tools.  For skinning and slicing meat, they used razor-sharp flake knives hafted to wooden handles. Once the initial rough butchering was completed, the meat was sliced off the bones and cut into long strips.  Some of the strips were roasted over the fire and eaten immediately, along with the head, certain areas of fat, and internal organs.  The rest of the meat was smoked or dried, which preserved it for later consumption.  Even the bones were put to use by cracking them open to remove the edible marrow.  Weighing as much as 400 pounds, a caribou killed in the fall with its fat stores intact might feed as many as 10 adults for several days. Skin and Bones A caribou hunt 11,000 years ago produced more than food.  Skins, bones, antlers, and organs taken from the animals became the raw materials for clothing, tools, containers, even shelter. Sewing and Survival Clothing manufacture—not as dramatic as hunting nor as well-documented as toolmaking—was nevertheless one of the most essential aspects of life for our ancestors 11,000 years ago.  Severe winters and frequent travel required lightweight, well-insulated clothing, and all clothing needed to be carefully constructed to keep out the cold and stand up to constant use.  A poorly made garment could lead to frostbite and infection. The skin, or hide, of the caribou was prized by our ancestors for its warmth.  Women probably took charge of dressing and preparing the hides, an arduous process that included hours of scraping, wetting, drying, and hand working.  The resulting pliable material could be used for blankets, sewn into clothing and bags, and probably made into tent coverings.  It has been estimated that a hunting group could use as many as 250 skins a year. What happened to the other parts of the caribou after the hunt? From the bones and antlers, people carved a variety of implements, such as needles, awls, scraping tools, and spear points.  The caribou’s stomach and bladder could be made into containers used to carry water through long days of travel.  The sinew was made into sewing thread and cord.