From Wall, SD to Buffalo, WY

June 4, 2019

A long day of travel today from Wall, SD to Buffalo, WY.

Along the way we found the Vore Buffalo Jump site. There are several of these sites scattered throughout the plains and up into Canada. Buffalo was the primary source of food and blankets for the plains Indians, but killing enough of them to make it through the harsh winters was a challenge. This was solved by herding the buffalo towards a cliff, where they would fall to their death. The entire village would then begin the task of butchering the buffalo, taking care to save the entire hide. The scull would be smashed in to obtain the brains which were used to soften the tanned hides used for clothing. Some of the bones were used for tools. The meat would be smoked, then everything would be transported back to the villages, leaving the unused bones behind.

The Vore jumps were found during the construction of I-90 when they uncovered thousands of bone fragments.

The entrance sign

This tells the story, if you can make it large enough to read

 We got the abbreviated tour, so we didn't get to see what was in the teepee

Shortly after discovery

This is the cliff the buffalo were run off of. The building is the site the archaeologist are using for their digs. 

The little visitor's center

Obscured by the clouds are beautiful snow topped mountains

Our campsite at Indian Camp Ground in Buffalo, WY, We are in the very back, in what they call the 'satellite sites', the only ones in the campground that aren't covered in trees. 

We see this sign as we leave campgrounds a lot. What's really funny is watching to see how many actually stop to roll the antenna down, or put the steps up. Phil has never left me behind yet...