Indigenous peoples have traveled through what is now Wyoming for thousands of years. Because of the scarcity of water in this region, and the generally harsh high desert climate, fewer natives called this land home than in some other states. Nonetheless, it was a frequent gathering place and whenever people gather, they leave behind evidence of their lives. These remnants help us better understand the people who passed through our state and how they lived. 

Evidence of early habitation varies greatly, both in its concentration and in its significance. Fairly common sites that are found across the state include lithic scatters and stone circles, or "tipi rings." Lithic scatters are accumulations of "portions of rock removed from an objective piece by percussion or pressure." A singular lithic flake may also be referred to as a chip or spall or, collectively, these sites are sometimes called "lithic debitage." They indicate that native peoples used the area for collecting and fashioning tools of various types.

Stone circles are also a commonly found feature. The exact purpose usually depends on the size and placement of the stones. When the stones are small, they might reflect tipi rings -- the stones used to keep tipis in place. Larger stones may reflect a social organization or religious practice. Some sites may have been constructed for astronomical or calendar-keeping reasons.  The exact purpose is often elusive.

More recently, housepits have been discovered in Wyoming, generating excitement among local archaeologists. These structures may have been used as places to tell stories, dance, sing, celebrate, and store food. These housepits or pit-houses are also sometimes called sunken featured buildings and have been found in numerous cultures around the world. Usually, all that remains of the ancient pit-house is a dug out hollow in the ground and postholes that may have been used to support the roof. In the nineteenth century, it was thought that most prehistoric peoples lived in pit-houses although more recent research has established that many of these features were in fact food storage pits.

Because of the abundance of some of these features, it is often reasonable to simply inventory the site and record the data for inclusion in a larger database. These steps help archaeologists to understand the patterns and habits of early habitation. Other sites, like housepits, remain rare enough that they require more extensive protection and interpretation.