Vore Bufflalo Jump Archaeology Dig & Black Hills
Wyoming & South Dakota
from $3,595
Ages: 12+
Maximum of 8 people
Join the waitlist for next year's dig!
Participation is subject to availability and is at the full discretion of the dig location. Prices and dates dates subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply.
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 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.
You can dig into the discoveries at the Vore Buffalo Jump while stepping into the ancient past and living culture of the American West on this immersive Black Hills adventure tour. Designed for curious travelers, history lovers, and hands-on explorers, this one-of-a-kind journey goes far beyond sightseeing. You’ll take part in a real archaeological excavation at the Vore Buffalo Jump at one of the most significant Plains Indian sites in North America.
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 | Arrive in Rapid City/Spearfish
This unforgettable journey—blending hands-on archaeology with the sacred and iconic beauty of South Dakota and Wyoming begins in Rapid City.
Once you fly into Rapid City Airport, a 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.
Meals: Welcome Dinner
July 21-22, 2026 | Archaeology Excavation at the Vore Buffalo Jump
The Vore Buffalo Jump 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. It has also shed light on the period when Native American hunters followed the buffalo herds across the Great Plains on foot.
For two days, under the guidance of Dr. Spencer Pelton, Wyoming State Archaeologist, you will be excavating bones from some of the uppermost levels at the site, which represent some of the last bison jump events on the Great Plains. Here you can expect to excavate 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 leaving extraordinary potential for discoveries in archaeology, tribal ethnohistory, zoology, geology, and paleoclimatology. Research from this site has already contributed to dozens of published scientific papers.
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 partake in a 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
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)
Physical Fitness Requirements
This is a true field experience. Participants should expect to kneel, sit, and crouch for extended periods, and getting dirty is part of the process. You will be standing, kneeling or crouching for extended periods during excavations and will occasionally be asked to lift field gear. While physically demanding, the work is exceptionally rewarding.
Click here for more details on what to expect on a archaeology dig.
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. Travel through rolling prairie and pine-covered hills as you observe bison roaming freely in their natural habitat, offering a powerful connection to the region’s deep history and the ancient hunting practices experienced earlier at the Vore Buffalo Jump.
We'll enjoy a group dinner together at a local restaurant tonight.
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.
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 Expect + What to Bring to Excavate at Vore Buffalo Jump
This is a true field experience. Participants should expect to kneel, sit, and crouch for extended periods, and getting dirty is part of the process. A boxed lunch is included to keep you energized throughout the day.
While physically demanding, the work is exceptionally rewarding. Only about 10% of the Vore Buffalo Jump has been excavated, leaving extraordinary potential for future discoveries in archaeology, tribal ethnohistory, zoology, geology, and paleoclimatology. Research from this site has already contributed to dozens of published scientific papers.
All necessary excavation, survey, and documentation tools are provided.
Clothing
-
Work clothes that you don't mind getting dirty
-
Hiking boots
-
Sunscreen
-
Bug spray
-
Water bottles
-
Work gloves (for excavation and handling tools)
Inclusions and Exclusions
Pricing of $3,595 is based on quad occupancy.
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$4,309 Single
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$3,799 Double
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$3,665 Triple
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$3,595 Quad
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Travel logistics are managed by Southwest Adventures
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.