LARAMIE, Wyo. — February 26, 2025 — The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has published a significant new historic context titled Paleoindian Heartland: An Archaeological Synthesis of Wyoming's First Peoples. Authored by Dr. Brigid Grund, a University of Wyoming PhD graduate in anthropology and current archaeologist with the National Park Service in Lakewood, Colorado, this extensive document is essential for archaeologists, cultural resource managers, and the general public alike.

 

"We are thrilled to present Paleoindian Heartland, a vital resource that not only enriches our understanding of Wyoming's first peoples but also underscores the collaborative spirit of our archaeological community. This publication is a testament to our commitment to preserving and sharing our state's rich history with scholars and the public," stated Gwendolyn Kristy of the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office.  

 

Physical copies of this resource are being distributed to federal agencies around the state, state agencies, the Wyoming State Library, the University of Wyoming Library, and other official locations. The publication is also free for download on the SHPO's website: wyoshpo.wyo.gov/index.php/programs/planning-historic-contexts/thematic-contexts. Physical copies are in limited supply and will be provided to cultural resource managers before being available to the general public.

 

Paleoindian Heartland offers a comprehensive overview of Wyoming's archaeology during the Paleoindian period, which spans approximately 8,000 to 13,000 years ago in the High Plains. The publication chronicles the development of Paleoindian archaeology in Wyoming from the late 19th century to the present, detailing important sites and illuminating our understanding of the ancient past. Ongoing research continues to reveal new information about these archaeological sites.

 

For more information about the historic context program, contact Gwendolyn Kristy, chief of SHPO's Planning & Historic Contexts Development Program, at 307-766-5366; gwendolyn.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also learn more about the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office at wyoshpo.wyo.gov.
 

 

Figure 1: The front cover of the newly published historic context, Paleoindian Heartland. Figure 2: George Frison (left) and Bruce Bradley (right) excavating mammoth bones at the Colby mammoth kill in the Bighorn Basin where four Clovis points were recovered. Photograph by Ed Rasmus. Original photograph courtesy of George C. Frison.