Vore Buffalo Jump

10/02/2026

This week, Vore Scholar Aislinn Riley shares an artifact:
Pictured are two pieces of a bison humerus (upper arm bone) from the Vore Site: a section of the diaphysis (or middle of the bone), and a proximal (or upper) end. Both show evidence of being gnawed on by a carnivore.

Carnivores such as coyotes, wolves, dogs, or even grizzly bears may have chewed on bones left behind after bison were hunted and butchered at the Vore Site. Their chewing can leave behind puncture marks, scrapes, and areas where pieces of the bone have been removed.

Carnivores tend to focus their chewing on the ends of bones, where the softer, spongy bone is found. As a result, archaeologists often find bones with partially or completely missing ends. In this case, the carnivore removed large portions of the bone during the gnawing process.

Evidence like this helps archaeologists understand that the story of a bone does not end when humans are finished with it. Scavenging by animals can leave its own marks on the archaeological record, giving us additional clues about what happened at archaeological sites hundreds or thousands of years ago.

Work by the Vore Scholars in the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository - UWAR is supported by donations to the VBJF by supporters including Sundance State Bank.

09/26/2026

Busy afternoon at the Jump hosting drivers of these classic cars!

09/25/2026

This week, we introduce you to Vore Scholar Elijah Applegate, who will intern in the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository - UWAR this fall semester:
I am a third-year anthropology major with a focus on archaeology. I grew up in the small town of Lander, Wyoming, where I was exposed to many aspects of history from an early age. This environment gave me a deep appreciation for both historical and prehistoric artifacts. One of my earliest memories is exploring Sinks Canyon near Lander with my dad in search of projectile points. Ever since then, I have been hooked on archaeology. I applied for the Vore Internship to gain more experience with collections management. I also hope that this internship will help me build professional connections within the University of Wyoming Anthropology Department and further develop the skills necessary for my future career in archaeology.

The Vore Scholars Program is supported by donors to the VBJF including Sundance State Bank.

09/18/2026

This week, we're introducing one of the two undergraduate students who will be working in the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository - UWAR on the Vore Collection during the fall semester. Aislinn Riley, has a special connection to the Vore Buffalo Jump -- she has worked as an interpreter at the Jump for three summers! Aislinn shared this with us:
I’m a junior at the University of Wyoming, majoring in Anthropology with a minor in History. I’ve always loved history, old artifacts, and the stories hidden within the past. In this picture, I’m guiding a tour at the Vore Buffalo Jump, where I work as an interpreter. I applied for the Vore internship to gain hands-on experience with archaeological materials, especially bones and other faunal remains. I’m excited to learn more, build my skills, and discover what these materials can tell us about the people who came before us!

The Vore Scholars Program is funded by donations to the VBJF by supporters including Sundance State Bank.

09/16/2026

I realized that the headline on the Cowboy State Daily article is misleading. Here are some numbers for you:

There were 22 hunts at the Vore Site. Based on Chuck Reher's estimate that an average hunt at the Vore killed 225 bison, there were at least 5,000 bison killed in the sinkhole. An adult bison has about 240 bones, so there are likely more than one million bison bones buried in the sinkhole floor. About 10% of the sinkhole floor has been excavated, and the Vore collection at the UWAR includes about 22,000 artifacts.

09/15/2026

With thanks to reporter Andrew Rossi!

When highway workers ran into a sinkhole with 20,000 bison bones in it, they had to completely re-route Interstate 90 in 1969. What became known as the…

08/14/2026

Especially for those of you who are fondly remembering Chuck Reher, here are a few of Arienna Ann Reher's favorites that we used in the display.

08/13/2026

Here's another image from the new exhibit in honor of Charles Reher, our long-time chief scientist. This panel shows a schematic of the 22 layers of bone in the floor of the sinkhole -- each a record of a single mass bison kill at the site.

08/06/2026

Since there's nothing like a beautiful projectile point, I thought that's what I would share this week. These photos are of a sample of Knife River flint and a projectile point found at the Vore Site made from this type of stone. As noted by Gene Gade in his article on knapping stones for our last newsletter, Knife River flint is not a true flint. This beautiful, amber-colored stone comes only from a few known quarries in what is now central North Dakota. Its characteristic color and luster make it unmistakable. Although dark in color, Knife River flint is semi-translucent. Therefore, it is a chalcedony, not a flint.

07/31/2026

Another VBJF memory: In 2014, students from Chief Dull Knife College were at the Jump tanning hides for a tipi. Their instructor was Larry Belitz. The finished tipi, made from five brain-tanned bison hides, is on display at the Vore Site.