Field Trip Itinerary
Activities at Stations:
- Cabin—Listen to history of VBJ as explained by a VBJ interpreter.
- Tipi—An interpreter will discuss how to jump a buffalo and the tribes who likely used the Vore Site.
- Scavenger Hunt—Students read the interpretive signs as they walk into the sinkhole. Chaperone will write down answers to scavenger hunt questions. The scavenger hunt questions are available for download.
- Excavation Building—VBJ guide will explain the excavation and answer questions.
- Excavation Building Uses of the Buffalo puzzle—Students complete game/view artifacts.
- Snack—We suggest that teachers buy Tatanka bars (available at various area stores) or jerky and read a story such as The Buffalo Jump by Bill Farnsworth. Books are also available at the Jump.
- Arrowhead Dig—Dig for arrowheads.
- Artifact Dig—A lesson plan for the artifact dig box was created by Gene Gade and is also available for download – click here to download.
Group 1
9:00—9:15Cabin
9:15—9:30Scavenger Hunt
9:30—9:45Excavation Building with guide
9:45—10:00Excavation Building —Uses of Buffalo puzzle
10:00—10:15Tipi
10:15—10:30Arrowheads
10:30—10:45Snack
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Group 2
9:00—9:15Scavenger Hunt
9:15—9:30Excavation Building with guide
9:30—9:45Excavation Building —Uses of Buffalo puzzle
9:45—10:00Tipi
10:00—10:15Arrowheads
10:15—10:30Snack
10:30—10:45Cabin
Group Members:
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Group 3
9:00—9:15Excavation Building with guide
9:15—9:30Excavation Building —Uses of Buffalo puzzle
9:30—9:45Tipi
9:45—10:00Arrowheads
10:00—10:15Snack
10:15—10:30Cabin
10:30—10:45Scavenger hunt
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Group 4
9:00—9:15Excavation Building —Uses of Buffalo puzzle
9:15—9:30Tipi
9:30—9:45Arrowheads
9:45—10:00Snack
10:00—10:15Cabin
10:15—10:30Scavenger hunt
10:30—10:45Excavation Building with Guide
Group Members:
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Group 5
9:00—9:15Tipi
9:15—9:30Arrowheads
9:30—9:45Snack
9:45—10:00Cabin
10:00—10:15Scavenger hunt
10:15—10:30Excavation Building with Guide
10:30—10:45Excavation Building —Uses of Buffalo puzzle
Group Members:
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Group 6
9:00—9:15Arrowheads
9:15—9:30Snack
9:30—9:45Cabin
9:45—10:00Scavenger hunt
10:00—10:15Excavation Building with Guide
10:15—10:30Excavation Building —Uses of Buffalo puzzle
10:30—10:45Tipi
Group Members:
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Group 7
9:00—9:15Snack
9:15—9:30Cabin
9:30—9:45Scavenger hunt
9:45—10:00Excavation Building with Guide
10:00—10:15Excavation Building —Uses of Buffalo puzzle
10:15—10:30Tipi
10:30—10:45Arrowheads
Group Members:
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Vore Buffalo Jump
Scavenger Hunt
Begin at the big sign by the parking lot, and then go to the first sign at the top of the trail. Follow the signs down to the pit! Read each sign and answer the questions.
Big Sign:
- What 6 material needs did buffalo provide for the Plains Indians?
- ______
- ______
- ______
- ______
- ______
- ______
- What time period did the tribes use the sinkhole? ______
- What is important about the location? ______
______
- Where were the archeologists from that documented the sinkhole:
______
“Preparing for Impending Blizzards” sign
- Why did Plains tribes conduct communal hunts in autumn? ______
______
- Approximately how many buffalo were killed here? ______
- How many tribes used this site? ______
- What were the 3 stages?
- ______
- ______
- ______
“Ideal Hunting Ground” sign:
- What provided drivelines? ______
- What did the Black Hills provide? ______
______
- Why were Indians attracted to this location? ______
______
“Understanding Bison Behavior” sign:
- Was it easier to (A) manipulate herds or (B) control individual animals?
- What happens when bison sense a threat? ______
______
- What was one decoy the Indians used? ______
“Trapping Buffalo” sign:
- What 3 things did Indians use to move the buffalo herd to the trap?
- ______
- ______
- ______
- Where was the real danger for buffalo? ______
______
- What was the primary driveline at the site? ______
______
- How were buffalo killed? ______
______
“Community Processing Plant” sign:
- What needed to happen right after the kill? ______
______
______
- Who probably carried the meat out of the sinkhole? ______
- What is a travois? ______
______
- What were brains used for? ______
______
“Discovering the Vore Site” sign:
- How was the site discovered? ______
______
______
- What is the horizontal and vertical extent of the materials?
______
- What period does the site represent?
______
- What percentage of the site has been excavated?
______