Ben and I took part in our second PIT project this summer June 23-29 in the Historic Hole in the Wall area of Wyoming. While the Hole in the Wall is best known as a haven for cattle rustlers and outlaws (Butch, Sundance, and the Wild Bunch), it has also been occupied by many different groups of Native Americans for many thousands of years. Our survey project located and mapped evidence of these occupations. We found tools, arrowheads, and stone circles. In some of the images you will notice a distinct haze and reddish light which was created by the smoke from some local wildfires as well as fires burning in Colorado. The conditions this year were on the extreme side, day time temps over 100 degrees and wind gusts in the 40-50mph range made it sometimes difficult to hang on to our clip boards and data sheets. There was a camp cook and outfitter who made the experience more like a vacation in that we had no camp chores to perform.
Our team consisted of 4 volunteers, 2 archaeologists from the BLM field office in Buffalo, WY. and 2 seasonal employees of the BLM. In all at least 4 sites were recorded and 4 stone circles mapped and photographed. Because of the remote nature of the area there was plenty of good hunting and many more promising sites to locate.
