Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Welcome to the traditional lands of the Blackfoot people, and to one of the most significant archaeological and cultural sites on the North American continent: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. As you stand where the rolling…

To truly grasp the mechanics of the buffalo jump, we must cast our minds miles back into the vast prairie hinterland, to an area known as the Gathering Basin. This immense tract of grazing land was the starting point of the hunt. …

We now stand near the precipice, at the upper edge of the sandstone cliff. Try to visualize the final, chaotic moments of the drive. …

Look down from the precipice to the lower level plane directly below the cliff. This area is known archaeologically as the Kill Site. …

Turn your attention to the structure that houses the museum itself. The award-winning interpretive center at Head-Smashed-In is a remarkable achievement in contextual architecture. …

Within the upper levels of the interpretive center, specifically the level designated as 'Napi's World,' we encounter the profound cosmological framework of the Blackfoot people. This is not merely a museum of ancient tools; it…

As we descend to the fourth level, 'Cultures in Contact,' the narrative takes a dark and transformative turn. This level meticulously chronicles the arrival of European settlers onto the Great Plains and the catastrophic impact…

As you prepare to leave the interpretive center and look out one last time over the endless expanse of the prairie, consider the sheer depth of human history layered within this soil. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a testament…