Medicine Lodge State Archeological Site
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 10,000 Years of History — One of the most significant archaeological sites in the northern Great Plains — 10,000 years of continuous human occupation with ancient petroglyphs
Medicine Lodge State Archeological Site preserves one of the most significant archaeological sites in the northern Great Plains — with evidence of continuous human occupation spanning 10,000 years! The sandstone cliffs contain hundreds of petroglyphs and pictographs — some among the oldest rock art in North America. The site was a natural shelter and gathering place used by Paleo-Indian, Archaic, and Plains cultures. Medicine Lodge Creek provided water and game, while the overhanging cliffs offered protection. The site has yielded over 60 cultural layers — an almost unbroken record of human life on the Plains.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Big Horn County, WY |
| Entry Fee | $4 resident / $6 non-resident |
| History | 10,000 years continuous! |
| Art | Oldest petroglyphs in N. America! |
About Medicine Lodge
Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site in Big Horn County preserves a sandstone cliff face with over 10,000 years of continuous human habitation — one of the longest occupancy records in the Rocky Mountains. The 750-foot cliff is covered with petroglyphs and pictographs spanning millennia, from Paleo-Indian hunters through historic Crow and Shoshone peoples. Excavations have uncovered 26 cultural layers reaching back to the end of the Ice Age.
Things to Do
Viewing the petroglyphs and pictographs (some 10,000+ years old), touring the excavation site, camping, hiking in the Big Horn foothills, fishing in Medicine Lodge Creek, and connecting with 10,000 years of human presence.
Insider Tips
10,000 years: Medicine Lodge contains one of the longest continuous records of human habitation in North America — 10,000+ years of occupation in a sandstone canyon. Pro tip: The site features ancient petroglyphs and pictographs — rock art spanning thousands of years. Bighorn Basin: The surrounding Bighorn Basin is one of Wyoming’s most geologically fascinating areas — dinosaur fossils, hot springs, and dramatic canyons.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Full access and guided tours. Fall: Comfortable weather. Spring: Canyon wildflowers. Winter: Limited access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the rock art?
Medicine Lodge’s rock art spans at least 10,000 years — from Paleo-Indian petroglyphs (carved into rock) to historic-era pictographs (painted on rock). The canyon’s sheltered walls provided a natural gallery. Motifs include animals, geometric patterns, and human figures. The art documents changing cultures, climates, and wildlife over 100 centuries — one of the most complete archaeological sequences in the northern Great Plains.
