The Buffalo Creek Site: Animal and Human Rock Art Diversity in Northern Wyoming

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Interdisciplinary Approaches to Rock Art Documentation, Research, and Analysis" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

A small sandstone rockshelter overlooking Buffalo Creek in the southeastern foothills of the Bighorn Mountains has been of interest to researchers since the 1960s due to its shield-bearing warriors, but they account for only a few images at the site. Several different animals here include elk, bears, and mountain sheep, and most are shown pierced by spears or arrows. A circular corral was placed among the biggest group of animals, presumably after the animals were already depicted. Hunting is not the only theme as there are several grooves of various sizes and shapes as well as a group of women on their own panel. Shield-bearing warriors are not associated with battle scenes but instead appear to be portraits. Styles of humans and animals indicate they were made over time by different people, and Native American use extends at least from the pre-horse Late Prehistoric period. Later Anglo names begin at least by 1904.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Interdisciplinary Approaches to Rock Art Documentation, Research, and Analysis   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36183.0