carol@bigsky.dillon.mt.us lynns@bigsky.dillon.mt.us
Our sixth grade class took a field trip to a site on the Big Hole River. Mike Ryan, archaeologist for the Beaverhead National Forest was our guide. We had a terrific day and learned much about the early people of our region.
Mr. Ryan explained the parts of a buffalo jump and how it was used. The collection area, the funnel, and the jump or the cliff make up the bison jump.
The collection area was a large meadow with hills or some type of rise on the sides of the meadow. The funnel was at the end of the meadow and taped down until it wasn't very wide. At the end was the buffalo jump and the bottom was fairly near the camp.
The early people would hide behind rocks or trees and when the buffalo came from the collection area through the funnel, they would jump up and try to make them run faster.
There would be people at the bottom that would finish killing the buffalo that weren't dead and then dress out the animals.
Mr. Ryan told us what the Indians used for weapons thousands of years ago. They used atlatls, bows and arrows, and spears. We were able to practice throwing an atlatl and found out how difficult it is to master.
There would normally be a meadow by the bottom of the jump where the village would be located. The average size of a village was 80-100 people and maybe 6-8 extended families.
We think early people camped where we would like to camp.
Produced by Carol Skiles and Lynn Stonelake. Please e-mail us with your comments!
carol@bigsky.dillon.mt.us lynns@bigsky.dillon.mt.us