The Vore The Vore Buffalo JumpBuffalo Jump

Research, Research, Education,Education,and Cultural and Cultural

CenterCenter

The Vore The Vore site is a site is a sinkhole...sinkhole......a natural “bowl” that

retained cultural

materials just where the Indians left them.

The volume of The volume of cultural cultural

material is material is enormous.enormous.

Bones of at least Bones of at least 15,000 bison are 15,000 bison are represented at the represented at the site, along with site, along with thousands of thousands of discarded tools discarded tools and artifacts.and artifacts.

Preservation is near perfect.Preservation is near perfect.The Vore site’s The Vore site’s

bones and bones and artifacts were artifacts were quickly covered quickly covered with sediment. with sediment. This rapid burial This rapid burial protected them protected them from weathering, from weathering, decomposition, decomposition, scavengers, etc.scavengers, etc.

Precise dating is possible.Precise dating is possible.The layers of sediment

are similar to tree rings and can be

correlated with them to provide very

accurate dating of cultural events, evidence about

climate, ecology, and many other

things..

The HuntThe HuntLarge communal Large communal bison hunts were bison hunts were

thoroughly thoroughly planned by planned by

respected leaders respected leaders and included and included

ceremonies by ceremonies by shamenshamen..

Scouts, known for Scouts, known for their endurance their endurance

and knowledge of and knowledge of bison behavior, bison behavior,

took days to took days to carefully haze the carefully haze the scattered bison scattered bison into a large herd into a large herd

near the jump near the jump site.site.

Sometimes Sometimes “decoys” “decoys”

imitating a bison imitating a bison calf in distress, calf in distress, lured the herd in lured the herd in the direction of the direction of

the trapthe trap

•• Hunt leaders positioned other tribe Hunt leaders positioned other tribe members at key locations along members at key locations along “drive lines” that funneled the herd “drive lines” that funneled the herd toward the “jump”.toward the “jump”.

•• Natural topographic features such as Natural topographic features such as arroyos and rock outcrops were arroyos and rock outcrops were often used in drive lines.often used in drive lines.

•• Occasionally, manOccasionally, man--made cairns, brush made cairns, brush piles, fences, etc. were piles, fences, etc. were also used.also used.

To avoid scattering the To avoid scattering the bison, it was essential not bison, it was essential not to stampede the herd until to stampede the herd until

the final seconds.the final seconds.

Successful hunts were followed by the huge tasks of butchering and

processing many tons of meat…then by thanksgiving and celebration.

Vore site excavation will be related to many fields of study

Archaeology

ClimateHistory

Ecology

Cultural AnthropologyGeology

Genetics

Because it captures a Because it captures a fascinating time and fascinating time and

culture with incredible culture with incredible preservation and precise preservation and precise dating, the Vore Buffalo dating, the Vore Buffalo Jump has been calledJump has been called“The Pompeii of Plains “The Pompeii of Plains Indian Archaeological Indian Archaeological

sites”sites”

Stories in stone…Stories in stone…Not all of the bison were Not all of the bison were

killed by the initial fall into killed by the initial fall into the sinkhole. Many injured the sinkhole. Many injured

bison were quickly bison were quickly dispatched by arrows and dispatched by arrows and

then butchered. As a result, then butchered. As a result, the Vore site contains a the Vore site contains a

superior representation of superior representation of stone tools from different stone tools from different

tribes and periods.tribes and periods.

1600 1700 1800 1900DATE

0

100

200

300

400

500

RIN

G W

IDTH

(.01

mm

)

Mandan/Hidatsa

Kiowa/Plains Apache

Absaroka and Shoshone Cheyenne and

Arapahoe

Lakota

- - - LITTLE ICE AGE - - -

Tracing Stone From Quarries to Vore SitePoints and tools

found at the Vore Buffalo Jump can be traced to stone quarries hundreds

of miles away, including…Knife

River flint from No. Dakota…chert & quartzite from the

“Spanish Diggings” …porcellanite from Powder & Tongue

River areas

Knife River

Spanish Diggings

Vore SiteVore Site

Vore Site

WyomingWyoming

NebrNebr

So.Dak.So.Dak.

No.Dak.No.Dak.Mont.Mont.

Powder River Basin Porcellanite

Knife River Flint

Spanish Diggings Quartzite

The Vore site isThe Vore site is a “history book” a “history book” about fascinating people in a time about fascinating people in a time of rapid cultural change.of rapid cultural change.

The ancestors of at least The ancestors of at least five Plains Indian five Plains Indian tribes are thought to tribes are thought to have used the Vore have used the Vore site during a 300 year site during a 300 year period between 1500 period between 1500 and 1800 A.D.and 1800 A.D.

The period of use of the Vore The period of use of the Vore Buffalo Jump corresponded with...Buffalo Jump corresponded with...

...major tribal movements…...major tribal movements……increased mobility……increased mobility……weapon & tool …weapon & tool

advancements…advancements……religious & ceremonial …religious & ceremonial

development...development...

Converging HistoriesConverging Histories

1500

1600

1700

1800

Columbus1st Use of Vore Site

Spanish Horses on Southern Plains

Lewis & Clark

Horses Common on Northern Plains

Last Use of Vore site

“Little Ice Age” Begins

French & British Trade Goods Through Canada

Middle-Missouri tribes ??

Kiowa-Apache

Cheyenne & Arapahoe

Shoshone

Hidatsa-CrowSeveral Small Pox Epidemics

Plains Apache ??

1800 – End of Vore Site Use

1900

1800 to @ 1840 Trappers/Explorers

1840’s & 1850’s Wagon Roads

1860’s & 70’s Civil War, Gold Rushes, Railroads and “Indian Wars”

1880 & 90’sRanchers, Homesteads

The Vore Site The Vore Site Connects With Connects With More Familiar More Familiar HistoryHistory

The Vore Buffalo The Vore Buffalo Jump Project’sJump Project’s

History and History and AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

Donation & OwnershipDonation & OwnershipVore family donated property to University of Wyoming in 1989Vore Buffalo Jump Foundation formed in 1991.UW and Vore Family transferred title to VBJ Foundation in 2001VBJF & UW Remain PartnersEnlarged partnership is pending

Feasibility Feasibility Study Study

In 1990, the Wyoming Legislature In 1990, the Wyoming Legislature funded a feasibility study of the funded a feasibility study of the

Vore Buffalo Jump’s Vore Buffalo Jump’s development and it’s potential development and it’s potential

benefit to the regional economy.benefit to the regional economy.This study was updated in 2002.This study was updated in 2002.

Many Pieces In The Many Pieces In The Vore Site DevelopmentVore Site Development

UW & UW &

ExtensionExtension Foundations

Foundations

& Donors& Donors

Vore Buffalo Jump Foundation

Wyo. Wyo. Business

Business Council Council

Elected OfficialsNative Native American

American TribesTribes

State and State and Federal Federal

GovernmentsGovernmentsEconomic Economic

Development Development EntitiesEntities

Tourism, Tourism,

Service Service

Industry Industry

PromotersPromotersHistory & History &

Culture Culture BuffsBuffs

Bison Bison

ProducersProducersScientific

Scientific CommunityCommunity

State of Wyoming – Basic Infrastructure, Tourist Info Center,

Highway Access, State Historical Site ?

Tribes – Cultural Programs & Classes

Federal Gov.–Phase I

Funding ?University of

Wyoming–Research & Education

VBJ Foundation Interpretive programs, overall management, fund-raising for Phase

II & III & beyond

Tourism Industry Promotion

of Site, State,

Region

Fitting the Pieces Together

A properly developed Vore A properly developed Vore Buffalo Jump will be a source Buffalo Jump will be a source

of pride to our region …of pride to our region …

…… an enduring legacy from our an enduring legacy from our generation to those that follow.generation to those that follow.