Researchers Discover 13 Ancient Villages in Wyoming Mountains
Did you know people have been living in Wyoming for over 2,500 years? Archaeologists from Sheffield University in England recently uncovered artifacts from 13 ancient villages in the Wind River Range.
The recent discovery sheds new light on ancient people living at high elevations. Of the 80 ancient villages that have been documented in Wyoming, the Wind River settlements are the first above 10,000 feet.
Among their findings, researchers unearthed weapons, pottery, tools, pipes and groundstones that were used to grind the area's most abundant food source, pine nuts. Archaeologists also discovered stone foundations used for shelters crafted from nearby pine trees.
Scientists believe the villages, which were all found on south-facing slopes, were inhabited by the ancient ancestors of the Commanche, Shoshoni and Ute tribes.