Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site
6 miles northeast of Hyattville. (307) 469-2234

Archaeology Makes Medicine Lodge Unique
The Medicine Lodge site has long been known for its Indian petroglyphs and pictographs, but not until 1969 did the full archaeological wealth of the site come to light. In that year, Dr. George Frison, then Wyoming State Archaeologist, began a series of digs that uncovered a human habitation site that has been continuously occupied for over 10,000 years. Medicine Lodge has thus become a key to the interpretation of the archaeology of the entire Big Horn Basin area.

The archaeological investigation involved digging through approximately 26 feet of soil and rocky sediments, discovering over 60 cultural levels spanning some 10,000 years of human occupation. This important aspect of the site enables the archaeologists to examine particular lifestyles and to study how these styles changed over time. Some of the material items found during the dig included fire pits, food storage pits, manos and metates (grinding stones) and projectile points.

The information gleaned from the archaeological investigation provides interesting educational and interpretive insight into the life of this area’s inhabitants throughout the years. Interpretive signs located at the base of the petroglyph cliff and exhibits in the log cabin visitor center give an overview of the information accumulated by the archaeologists. They also explain some of what you see around you at Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site.

The excavations at Medicine Lodge Creek are part of long term archaeological research by Dr. George Frison. This includes investigations at several other rock shelters in nearby Paintrock and Medicine Lodge canyons and at several quarry sites where raw materials for prehistoric stone tools were obtained.

Frison has also conducted major excavations at the Colby site near Worland and the Hanson site near Shell. Results from this research have been published in Frison’s 1978 book, “Prehistoric Hunters of the High Plains,” and several other professional articles and books.

Data from all these sites are being used to reconstruct different aspects of prehistoric life and settlement systems ranging from those of the 11,000 year old Paleo-Indian to the historic Crow Indians who lived in the area.

Analyses of stone artifacts, flaking debris, seeds, bones, pollen, and charcoal from the site, as well as aspects of the local geology and site stratigraphy are all used to reconstruct the past. For example, bones found in the site can be used to infer dietary habits of the prehistoric occupants, as well as the particular time of year the site was occupied.

One interesting find was the recovery of rodent, deer and bird bones which appeared to be refuse from a cooking pit. Dated at about 9,500 years old, this discovery greatly increased our knowledge about some of the earliest Americans who were traditionally thought to have been only big game hunters.

Reprinted from Wyoming State Parks Brochure