Reconnaissance Survey of the Big Horn County, Montana, Bison Jump-and-Kill Site

Summary

A Gatchell Museum Field Team conducted reconnaissance surveys of a Bison Jump-and-Kill site in Big Horn County, Montana, on May 15 and July 1, 1999. The Jump is over sandstone cliffs some 3.0 to 4.3 meters in height. That height may have been reduced somewhat by erosion of the past few millennia. Test holes and a two meter long trench yielded numerous bison bone pieces. Many were burned and charred and some showed cut and impact marks interpreted to be of human origin. Evidence of a probable fire cooking/trash pit and temporary camp site for butchering was found in the locale along with a surface-find, small, stone arrowpoint judged to be from the AD 500-1500 time period. Surface bison bone fragments were also numerous and scattered, suggesting previous erosional or human disturbances.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Wyoming Archaeologist 2000

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Contact(s): Marcia Peterson

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