Bighorn Medicine Wheel
Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark
Late Prehistoric 1200–1700 CE·Plains Indians·🇺🇸 Wyoming, United States
About
About Bighorn Medicine Wheel
24 m medicine wheel with 28 spokes and six cairns at 2927 m, summer-solstice and Sirius alignments claimed by Eddy 1974, sacred to Crow/Shoshone.
This entry is brief — help us grow it. Suggest a source or correction.
Why it mattersArchaeological landmark for Plains Indians in Wyoming; type-site demonstrating medicine wheel and observatory and regional exchange.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function and chronology of Bighorn Medicine Wheel within Late Prehistoric 1200–1700 CE
- 02Relationship to neighboring polities
Theories
- 01Plains Indians ceremonial center for medicine wheel and observatory
- 02Regional capital controlling trade and tribute network
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1200–1700 CE
- Period
- Late Prehistoric 1200–1700 CE
- Culture
- Plains Indians
- Purpose
- Medicine wheel and observatory
- Rediscovered
- 1909 Sheridan
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1200–1700 CE
Bighorn Medicine Wheel construction phase
20th century
Modern excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
44.8261° N · 107.9208° W · 2927 m · 2 mapped features
Bighorn Medicine Wheel central feature
featureMain architectural feature
44.8261° N · 107.9208° WBighorn Medicine Wheel secondary sector
sectorSecondary sector
44.8271° N · 107.9198° W
Gallery