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Location: Behind Holiday Village Mall, Havre
Contact: (406) 265-6417
Site Discovery
The Wahkpa Chu’gn site (pronounced “wock-pajew-kon”) is a prehistoric Indian bison kill and campsite which was frequently used from approximately 2,000 to 600 years ago. It is one of the largest known bison kill sites in northern Montana. “Wahkpa Chu'gn” is the Assiniboine name for the Milk River.
The site was discovered in the fall of 1961 and is largely situated on lands owned by Hill County. This site is now managed on Hill County’s behalf by the H. Earl Clack Museum.
Prehistoric Use Of The Site
Three archaeological cultures used the site at different times. The earliest of these is known as Besant. Besant peoples used the site extensively a number of times between 2,000 and 1,500 years ago. After its use by Besant peoples, the site was abandoned for a 200-300 year period. Then it was used briefly by a culture known as Avonlea somewhere between 1,200 and 1,300 years ago. Almost immediately thereafter it started being used by a third culture known as Saddle Butte who continued using the site extensively until about 600 years ago when the site was again abandoned for the last and final time.
Site Displays And Tours
The museum conducts guided walking tours of the site approximately 1 hour long, which provide a unique and unequaled view of the area’s cultural prehistory as well as illustrating the techniques employed by archaeologists to discover and interpret it.
On your tour of the site you will view extensive archaeological bison kill and campsite deposits at various depths up to 20 feet below surface. These materials are displayed at five locations throughout the site within wooden display houses constructed to protect the deposits and make them accessible for public display.
Tours available from mid-May through Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is charged. Reprinted from site brochure
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