Dates Available:
May-Sept
2 to 5 days
from $xx/day
from $xxx
Group size: 2-8 people
Ages: 14+
Minors must be accompanied
$2735/doubles
and what about deposits and refunds, etc.
About the Vore Buffalo Jump Archaeological Site
The Vore Buffalo Jump is one of the most important archaeological sites of the late-prehistoric Plains, as it records 300 years of human hunting. The sites is located at the bottom of a natural sinkhole that was used as a bison trap where at least 4,000 bison were trapped, killed, and butchered from about 1550 to 1800 A.D. It is likely that multiple tribes including Lithic evidence suggests multiple tribes used the Vore site, including the Kiowa and Apache who migrated southwards to their modern home in the Texas-New Mexico region. Later peoples using the Vore site included the Shoshone, Hidatsa, Crow and Cheyenne.
The site was used by Native American hunters to stampede bison in the direction of the pit, which was deep enough to kill or disable the animals that were driven into it. The Vore site has given archaeologists a detailed understanding of how this practice changed through time on a sub-generational scaled. The stie has also shed light on the period when Native American hunters followed the buffalo herds across the Great Plains on foot.
How you will make an impact during your time excavating
Your work on the Vore Buffalo Jump Site will assist in the efforts of historic preservation and public interpretation of the site, in addition to your contribution to scientific research in archaeology, tribal ethnohistory, zoology, geology, and paleoclimatic studies. Of urgency, is the fact that the bones are steadily degrading and in need of removal. Your work will preserve this vulnerable site, while also exposing new bone to enhance the interpretive value of the site. All excavated material will be sent to the University of Wyoming, to be stabilized and analyzed. Important materials will be put on public display at the Vore Site. Finally, your fees will help fund the curation costs associated with bone removal and a donation to the Vore Foundation.
July 20, 2026 |
Begin your Black Hills experience in Rapid City this afternoon where your tour director will meet you at the airport to transfer you to your hotel in Spearfish. You will join the group tonight for a welcome dinner.
*Please arrive in Rapid City by 3pm.
Accommodations: Hampton Inn Spearfish
Meals: Welcome Dinner
July 21-22, 2026 | Archaeology Excavation at the Vore Buffalo Jump
For these two days, under the guidance of Dr. Spencer Pelton, Wyoming State Archaeologist, you will be excavating bones from the exposed bonebed floor that have been damaged by flooding in the previous several years. Expect to find bison skulls, long bones, ribs, vertebrae, and arrow points and perhaps stone tools—all evidence of the Native American tribes who used this site.
To date, only about five percent of the site has been excavated and this year’s excavation will focus on the some of the uppermost levels at the site, which represent some of the last bison jump events on the Great Plains.
Working conditions
The Vore Buffalo Jump is enclosed within a structure, so work is conducted within a protected space. The site requires a short, paved walk into the bottom of the sinkhole. The path is steep, but it is handicap accessible. The site hosts daily tours during the summer, so you will likely be watched by site visitors as you work.
Workdays
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8am start each day. On Day 1, Dr. Pelton will provide an introductory lecture and tour of the site, followed by 1:1 instruction on excavation protocols.
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There will be a 1 hour lunch break to eat your boxed lunch
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4pm conclusion of the excavation
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4:30pm-on enjoy the rest of the late afternoon and evening in Spearfish
Physical Fitness Requirements
A moderate to high level of physical fitness is required and you should be in good health and capable of working in a rugged and remote environment. Activities involve walking 1 to 5 km daily on uneven terrain, sometimes in high heat. You will be standing, kneeling or crouching for extended periods during excavations and will occasionally be asked to lift field gear. T
Click here for more details on what to expect on a archaeology dig.
Accommodations: Hampton Inn, Spearfish
Meals: Breakfast and Packed Lunch for the field
July 23, 2026 | Devil's Tower | Deadwood | Buffalo Jeep Safari
This morning, we'll travel to one of the most sacred sites of the Black Hills—Devil's Tower National Monument. This magnificent monolith, is both a sentinel over the plains and a place for prayer and vision quests.
From there, we'll head to the notorious old west town of Deadwood, the historic Gold Rush town famous for its lawless past and Wild West legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. You'll be free to explore Main Street and have lunch on your own.
This afternoon, you'll head to Custer State Park, to enjoy a spectacular Buffalo Jeep Safari through the park. There you will see bison in their natural habitat, helping you to envision what happened in the area centuries ago at the Vore site.
We'll enjoy a group dinner together at a local restaurant tonight.
Accommodations: Comfort Inn & Suites, Custer
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
July 24, 2026 | Wind Cave National Park | Mammoth Site | Crazy Horse
Today starts with a visit to Wind Cave National Park, where, according to the Lakota, their people and the bison first emerged from the Earth at this very sacred site.
Next, you'll join a guided visit to The Mammoth Site, an active paleontology site where the bones of over 190-thousand-year old Columbian and Wooly mammoths have been preserved in rock. The Paleo-Indians almost certainly interacted with these species and the Lakota continue to honor this area's rich ancient megafauna in the Black Hills region.
A colossal monument honoring the famous Sioux Warrior Crazy Horse is next on the day's agenda. The memorial fulfills a mission to preserve and provide education about native culture.
This evening, after a farewell dinner we'll take a short drive to Mt. Rushmore to experience the Evening Lighting Ceremony, which includes a film about the presidents, songs, and acknowledgment of our US Veterans as the monument is lit up for a climactic patriotic experience like no other.
Accommodations: K Bar S Lodge, Keystone
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
July 25, 2026 | Mt. Rushmore | Departure
This morning, return to Mt. Rushmore National Memorial for a daytime view before your transfer to the Rapid City Airport for your afternoon flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
What to Bring to Excavate at Vore Buffalo Jump
All necessary excavation, survey, and documentation tools are provided.
Clothing
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Work clothes that you don't mind getting dirty
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Hiking boots
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Sunscreen
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Bug spray
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Water bottles
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Work gloves (for excavation and handling tools)
Inclusions and Exclusions
Pricing is based on the dates of your choosing and a 4-guest minimum, double occupancy.
Includes:
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Services of a Southwest Adventure Tours tour director
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Comfortable transportation
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5 nights hotel accommodations
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5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
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2 day private archeological dig experience at Vore Buffalo Jump
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Devils Tower National Monument
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Wildlife Jeep Safari in Custer State Park
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Wind Cave National Park
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Mammoth Site
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Crazy Horse Memorial
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Mt. Rushmore
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Gratuities for included activities
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Gratuities for included meals
Excludes:
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Airfare
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Items of a personal nature (alcohol, room service, etc.)
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Meals (other than listed in the itinerary)
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Hotel baggage handling
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Gratuities for the Southwest Adventure Tours tour director
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Valid passports and visas, for travel from point of original departure through to the final destination are the responsibility of the traveller.
An interview with Spencer Pelton, PhD | Wyoming State Archaeologist
1. What makes the Vore Site significant?
Vore is significant as the only known bison jump into a sinkhole and for the exceptional preservation characteristics. Nowhere else in North America do we have such a detailed, well-preserved record of hunting that spans 22 discernable events.
2. What has been most surprising about the discoveries at this site?
My office has primarily worked on the extant assemblage through our curation work. The biggest surprise to me has been how late the site was used, perhaps into the early 19th century. Vore spans the major cultural changes that occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries when the gun and horse were introduced to Plains Indian communities and likely represents one of the final bison jumps on the Great Plains. Those changes are indirectly reflected in the Vore assemblage.
3. What are your current research objectives at this site?
We would like to start determining the impact of persistent hunting at the site on bison herd population genetics. The site is mostly bison bone, so the more important finds are those that in aggregate demonstrate how human hunting impacts things like herd structure.
$xxx
Ages: 21+
Space is limited to 7 participants
Participation is subject to availability and is at the full discretion of the dig location. Prices and dates dates subject to change. All Terms + Conditions apply.
Add a custom dig date or travel itinerary before or after this dig!
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About Dinosaurs in Cruzy, Provence
When most people think of the south of France, they picture sun-drenched vineyards, lavender fields, and world-class wine—not dinosaurs. Yet beneath Provence’s postcard-perfect landscapes lies a hidden prehistoric world. More than 25 species of dinosaurs and other ancient lifeforms have already been discovered in the Provençal region, quietly rewriting its story beneath the soil.
Now, for the first time ever, you’re invited to uncover that story yourself. This one-of-a-kind paleontology expedition blends hands-on discovery with immersive travel through the breathtaking Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur region. You’ll spend four unforgettable days digging for dinosaur fossils near Cruzy, working alongside scientists where ancient giants once roamed. Beyond the dig, you’ll explore remarkable fossil collections tucked inside medieval villages, descend into working ochre mines, and savor the food, wine, and timeless beauty that make Provence legendary.
It’s a journey where prehistoric discovery meets French art de vivre—and where every layer of earth reveals a deeper connection to the past.
How you will make an impact on this paleontology dig
On site, participants actively assist us with excavation, which enables the team to collect fossils and even discover new ones. . Your work onsite will significantly contribute to ongoing scientific research, particularly on Titanosaurs, Nodosaurs, and plants. And, your work in the lab will allow scientists to more clearly identify and inventory the fossils collected before they are added to the collections. Your work will enhance the understanding of the ecosystems that lived in southern France, around Cruzy, 72 million years ago, thereby providing an important scientific resource for many researchers worldwide.
Aug 8 | Meet-up in Avignon + Cruzy
Your journey begins in the ancient papal city of Avignon, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by your local guide, Vincent Reboul, upon arrival at the Avignon TGV station from Paris in the late morning—or directly from your hotel if you’ve chosen to spend the night soaking in the history of this storied city.
From Avignon, you’ll travel by private van toward the heart of southern France, winding through sunlit landscapes on a scenic two-hour drive to Cruzy. Along the way, we pause at the legendary Pont du Gard, an awe-inspiring Roman aqueduct that has stood for nearly 2,000 years. Here, you’ll enjoy lunch, take a refreshing swim, and marvel at one of the greatest engineering achievements of the Roman world—a monumental structure that once carried water across 56 kilometers between Nîmes and Uzès.
By mid-afternoon, you’ll arrive at your base camp: the charming Castigneau Village Hotel, just 15 minutes from the excavation sites and perfectly situated at the gateway to discovery. Set on the edge of the Haut-Hérault Regional Natural Park and within reach of the Mediterranean, this peaceful setting will be your home as you step back into deep time.
That very day, you’ll meet the team of paleontologists who will guide your journey and visit the Cretaceous excavation site where ancient fossils lie waiting beneath the earth. As the sun lowers over the landscape, you’ll stand where dinosaurs once walked—your first unforgettable step into a world millions of years in the making.
Accommodations: Chateau Village Castigno, double shared
Welcome drinks
Aug 9-12 | About the Montplo Paleontology Dig in Cruzy | What to Expect & What to Bring
The site where you will be working—Montplo Nord—has quite an unusual story. It was discovered in 1996 by a local winegrower. After using a large stone to prop up his tractor, he began to think this wasn’t just any old stone. The Cruzy Museum confirmed that, this was in fact the humerus of a sauropod! The search for dinosaurs in Provence began!
This almost completely intact Titanosaur measures 10 meters (33 feet.) and more finds followed, including Nodosaurs, Rhabdodons and the rare Gargantuavis philoinos, the largest known bird of the mesozoic —all dating from the Upper Cretaceous, or around 72 million years ago.
You'll be a part of the team unearthing fossils in Montpolo Nord site near Cruzy during 4 days of fieldwork working alongside paleontologists.
Daily excavation schedule:
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9:00am—Dig day starts at the Montplo Nord site.
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12pm to 3pm—Mid-day break in the lab with the dig team. Packed lunches will be provided
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4pm-7pm—Excavation resumes until the end of the day
The team will be split in two groups. Each day, one team will be in the laboratory and another in the field.
Your contribution to the fieldwork at Montplo consists of:
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Collecting additional bones belonging to specimens already discovered on this site, for various ongoing and future scientific studies (titanosaur, rhabdodon, ankylosaur, gargantuavis, etc.)
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Better contextualize the repository environment
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Conduct topographic, sedimentological and geological surveys
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Look for layers that may contain rare plant remains
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Work on the historical collections of this site (preparation, sorting, storage and inventory)
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Sift fine sediments for microfossils
You will be provided with all tools and training in the excavation techniques. You can expect to use sledgehammers, chisels, and oyster knives and be capable of carrying sediment buckets and moving a wheelbarrow.
Included in your stay is a guided tour of the Cruzy Museum, paleontology collections and laboratory.
Please note: days in Cruzy can get extremely hot. Tarps and protective equipment, will be provided, but hats and sun protection are mandatory.
What to bring:
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Loose-fitting, long pants
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Long sleeved shirts
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Broken-in boots
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Moisture-wicking socks
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Broad-brimmed hat with a windstrap
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Gloves
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Water bottle
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Sunscreen
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Quick-drying jacket
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Small backpack
Accommodations: Chateau Village Castigno, double shared
Meals Daily breakfast and lunch and farewell dinner, otherwise dinner is on your own
Aug 12 | Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine | Château du Barroux | Ochre Quarry
Departing Cruzy, you’ll travel by private transport on a two-hour drive to the renowned wine village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. No visit to Provence would be complete without experiencing its winemaking heritage, and the day begins with a tasting at Domaine Saint Patrice or Domaine de la Barroche. Afterward, enjoy time to explore the village and have lunch at one of its well-regarded local restaurants.
In the early afternoon, the itinerary continues to the impressive 12th-century Château du Barroux, set against the distinctive rock formations of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The castle offers expansive views of the surrounding countryside and also features a permanent fossil exhibit—an unexpected and fascinating highlight. Excavated by local paleontologist Luc Ebbo, the collection includes marine reptiles and ammonites, complemented by life-sized illustrations. A visit to Luc’s laboratory provides insight into the careful work involved in fossil preparation and research.
The day concludes with a visit to the Ochre Mines of Gargas, where you’ll learn how this naturally occurring mineral—formed when Provence was once submerged beneath the sea—has been used by humans for hundreds of thousands of years. Red ochre, in particular, is believed to have played an important role in early artistic expression and ritual, offering meaningful context for understanding human cultural development.
Accommodations: La Bastide de la Source, double shared
Meals Breakfast and dinner
Aug 13 | Hike to Mammal Fossils | Vacheres Museum
Get ready for two more days fully immersed in the world of fossils. The morning begins with a scenic 30-minute hike to a dramatic rock face where traces of ancient mammal bones and footprints are still visible—silent evidence of life that roamed this landscape some 35 million years ago.
Along the way, you’ll stop to enjoy a packed lunch together before continuing on to the Museum of Paleontology and Archaeology in Vachères, a beautifully preserved 16th-century village in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Inside, you’ll encounter one of the region’s most remarkable discoveries: Bachitherium, often called the “gazelle of Provence.” This exceptionally preserved, 30-million-year-old fossil represents an extinct ancestor of modern deer and bovids.
Accommodations: La Bonne Etape Hotel , double shared
Meals Breakfast and Farewell dinner
Aug 14 | Luc Ebbo’s Paleogalerie | Departure
Before concluding your journey later today, you'll spend the morning visiting Luc Ebbo’s Paleogalerie, home to a remarkable private collection of 100-million-year-old fossils from the Vocontian Basin—all personally found, excavated, and prepared by Luc himself.
The collection includes a rare juvenile theropod dinosaur and one of the most complete ichthyosaurs ever discovered in this region. Marine fossils are on display, highlighting the abundance of ancient sea life in the area.
From here, the journey continues through the scenic Digne Valley, an area internationally recognized for its geological significance. In Digne-les-Bains, you’ll stop for lunch and visit the Ammonite Wall, a massive rock face embedded with hundreds of visible ammonite fossils—while also stopping along the way to see two ichthyosaur discovery sites.
A private transfer to Nice brings the expedition to a close. The drive offers a final opportunity to reflect on the layers of history you’ve explored—from ancient seas and dinosaurs to medieval villages and modern Provence—before arriving on the Côte d’Azur.
Meals Breakfast
An interview with the Cruzy Dig Team | Thierry Tortosa | Jean Godert | Lea de Brito | Bruno Maggia
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What makes the Montplo Nord Site in Cruzy significant?
The Montplo deposit has yielded nearly 2200 fossils, remarkable for their exceptional quality of preservation. A rarity that allows researchers to examine the anatomy of these remains in minute detail! The majority of the discoveries involve dinosaurs, but the site has also revealed a varied fauna: crocodiles, turtles, fish, birds, pterosaurs, and lizards.
The quantity is one thing, the quality of the fossils is another. After an organism dies, its remains undergo various processes called taphonomy, which can alter or disperse them. Scavenging animals, for instance, can consume parts of the carcasses, while others, by trampling them, contribute to their dispersion. Environmental conditions (water, soil acidity, oxygen, etc.) can also play a role in the quality of an organism's preservation. In Montplo, some fossils are so well-preserved that details that are difficult to see in other sites, such as muscle attachments or invertebrate marks, can be studied. -
What has been most surprising about your discoveries at this location?
In addition to the quality of preservation, the quantity and the diversity this site has proven to be a veritable mine of information! -
What are your current research objectives at your site?
Collect additional bones belonging to specimens already discovered on this site, for various ongoing and future scientific studies. Including Titanosaurs, the largest land animals to have ever existed, Rhabdodon, an ornithopod that only lived in Europe, Ankylosaur and Gargantuavis philoinos, which is the largest known bird of the Mesozoic -
What was most important or rewarding find at this site?
it is difficult to make an exhaustive list of the most beautiful or interesting pieces because 2200 fossils have been collected and all of them are extremely important to better understand the ecosystem as a whole.That said, we were particularly pleased to find the remains of a large non-avian bird (garguantuavis philoinos) because only some parts of the birds have been previously found and described. We’d have to include the discovery of an ankylosaurus dinosaur found at this site in addition to the mandible (jaw) of a titanosaur that is possibly a new species.
More Reading
Inclusions and Exclusion
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Pricing is per person based on double occupancy.
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Single occupancy is xxxxx
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Travel logistics managed by xxxx
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Rates remain subject to change until such time that full and final payment has been received and confirmed. Rates can change based on availability, exchange rates and changes implemented by service providers.
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VISA NEEDED
Includes:
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All tools for archaeological excavation are provided, along with dedicated on-site training, instruction, and supervision.
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The cost of the dig includes funds to support the archaeological fieldwork and research
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6 nights accommodation
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Presentations, private tours and excavation days with the researchers & site permit holders
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Breakfasts and packed lunches
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Activities as indicated in the itinerary.
Excludes:
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International airfare
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Transportation to and from Stirling
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Transportation to and from the site daily
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Dinners not mentioned
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Personal, travel and medical insurance (mandatory proof needed)
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Alcoholic beverages
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Visa fees
Fees and Cancellations:
Full payment is due upon booking.
Cancellations: Once a booking is confirmed and payment is made, a 20% cancellation fee will be charged up to 61 days prior, a 50% cancellation fee will be charged if cancelled between 60-31 days before the trip. Cancellations under 30 days before the trip are 100% non-refundable.
Heading 2
We will collect a non-refundable deposit for each destination to ensure your apce. In the event the trip does not or cannot take place, we will refund your deposit. Trip Cancellation Policy Deposits are required at booking and are non-refundable. Trip balances are due by xxxx May 15 for summer trips and August 1 for fall trips unless otherwise specified. The balances are non-refundable after these due dates. We do not give refunds for any reason. This includes but is not limited to: route changes due to wildfires, smoke, floods, trail conditions, a non-harvest hunt, or unprecedented weather events. We do not give refunds if personal health inhibits you from participating on a trip including exposure to an airborne virus or illness. Because of this, we STRONGLY recommend purchasing trip insurance.
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Monday, Wednesday & Friday
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Add a custom travel itinerary before or after this dig!
You can also ask us about arranging a personalized dig date and itinerary to fit your schedule.
Participation is subject to availability and is at the full discretion of the dig location. Prices and dates dates subject to change. All Terms + Conditions apply.
All Ages
Under 18 must be
accompanied by parents
Paula
This trip truly earned the title of Bucket list for me. I enjoyed the super company of the wonderful like-minded group on my first, and certainly not last, excavation. Jose was a fantastic mentor and patiently listened to all my pent up paleontological questions. But really it was the content of the days that I absolutely loved. Being able, as a novice, to participate in the digs at these sites, using all the tools and learning about the whole process of fossil extraction was just a dream come true for me and an experience I will cherish forever.