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High Elevation Archaeology
New in 2026, the High Elevation Archaeology initiative will focus on research and preservation of ancient cultural sites in alpine landscapes of Grand Teton National Park, revealing new insights into how Indigenous peoples used and moved through the mountains for thousands of years. Documentation is at the forefront of the project, particularly focused on vulnerable, overlooked sites that are currently threatened by human use and environmental changes.
Ancient Stories Written in Alpine Stone
Remote areas of Grand Teton National Park, often above tree line, hold evidence of thousands of years of Indigenous presence, travel, and resource use, challenging long-held assumptions about where and how people lived in the mountains. Working in partnership with the University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology and in coordination with tribal representatives, the High Elevation Archeology initiative brings together academic research, Indigenous knowledge, and park stewardship to document and interpret these significant places.
The project focuses on site types that have historically received limited attention, including pre-contact stone circles, ice patch archaeology, high-elevation quarries, and submerged cultural landscapes. Many of these sites are increasingly vulnerable due to climate change, melting ice, erosion, and growing visitation. Through systematic field inventory, spatial analysis, and risk assessment, newly identified sites are documented to meet rigorous state archaeological standards, ensuring they are formally recognized and legally protected.
The project further supports an archaeological intern whose work contributes original research and documentation to the official archaeological record. This investment strengthens the park’s ability to manage cultural resources proactively while expanding knowledge of early human use across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. At the same time, the initiative supports the next generation of cultural resource professionals and deepens public understanding of Grand Teton as a landscape shaped not only by geology and wildlife, but by people, past and present.
By the numbers
10,000+
24
13,000+
