The Southsider Shelter is a Native American rock shelter archaeological site located on the east side of the Bighorn Basin in Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States. The site is a natural rock overhang that provided shelter and protection from the elements for ancient inhabitants.
Chronology and Occupation
The site contains a well-stratified record of human occupation spanning multiple cultural periods, including the Early Paleoindian period, Early Plains Archaic, Middle Plains Archaic, Late Plains Archaic, and the Late Prehistoric period. This continuous stratigraphy makes the site valuable for understanding long-term patterns of human habitation in the region.
Artifacts
Archaeological excavations at Southsider Shelter have yielded projectile points and chipped stone tools. These artifacts provide evidence of the site's use over thousands of years by successive Native American groups.
National Register of Historic Places
Southsider Shelter was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 2012, under reference number 12000470. The nearest city is Ten Sleep, Wyoming.
References
- National Register Information System, National Park Service, July 9, 2010.
- "Southsider Shelter," Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office.
