Bison antiques diorama example. - Contributed photo
Contributed photo
Bison antiques diorama example.

Keep a bison warm - knit a coat


September 29, 2008 · Updated 10:31 PM 

  • 0
  • Print Story
  • Letter/Editor

The Orcas Island Historical Museum and Poppie’s Yarns are looking for adventurous knitters. Volunteers will knit one or more “patches” that will be pieced together to form a woolly coat for a near life-size mockup of the museum’s famous Orcas Island ice-age Bison antiquus.

This project will result in a three-dimensional Bison antiquus replica that will kick off fundraising on Nov. 1 for a professionally designed museum diorama. The diorama will tell the story of Orcas Island’s ice age mammals and the early hunters who followed them across Orcas to Vancouver Island.

The Orcas bison has been carbon dated to 11,760 years old, a date that has astonished archaeologists world wide – not because of the age of the bison, but because of evidence that humans hunted the seven-foot tall beasts right here on Orcas Island over 11,000 years ago. Research archaeologists will present the newest information to the public at Orcas Center, 2 p.m., Sunday Nov. 2.

So grab those fat needles, and call the Museum, 376-4849, to register as a Bison Knitter, urges Museum Director Micki Ryan. Yarn is provided by the Museum and may be picked up at Poppie’s Yarns in Eastsound by Friday, Oct. 3, to those who sign up. A model for the finished Bison is on display at Poppie’s. Andrea Cohen is Volunteer Bison Knitting Coordinator, and may be reached at 376-7577 for any knitting information.

All Bison pieces must be received by end of day Oct. 30.

Comment on this story.

Community Blogroll

  • Ask April
    The Honorary Mayor of Eastsound answers all of your pressing concerns in "Ask April," a column dedicated to the interests of visitors and residents of Orcas Island, Wash.
  • Away Here
    Life observed from a tiny corner of the world.
  • Cliff Mass Weather Blog
    Cliff Mass is a UW professor of Atmospheric Sciences. He blogs about the local in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Cynthia Brast Entomology
    Cynthia Brast is a graduate student studying Entomology via a distance eduction program through the University of Florida. Beautiful macro photography graces her posts about how to deal with local pests like black aphids, or the plight of imperiled species like the Island Marble Butterfly.
  • Energy services: Sharing the Load
    Energy Services is OPALCO’s effort to make energy saving easy and accessible. Updated by Orcas Power and Light Cooperative.
  • Orca Watcher
    Marine naturalist Monica Wieland posts her photography and wildlife musings. Wieland is also the author of "Orca Encounters: Images of Southern Resident Killer Whales."
COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

blog comments powered by Disqus