An Investigation of Historic Euro-American Inscriptions at Madison Buffalo Jump

Author

Jay Thomas Vest, University of Montana, MissoulaFollow

Year of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Anthropology (Cultural Heritage Option)

Department or School/College

Anthropology

Committee Chair

John Douglas

Commitee Members

John Douglas, Kelly Dixon, Mike Monsos

Keywords

Madison Buffalo Jump, Historic Inscriptions, Montana, Rock Art

Subject Categories

Archaeological Anthropology

Abstract

This thesis explores the cultural significance and interpretive potential of historic inscriptions left behind by primarily Euro-Americans at Madison Buffalo Jump; a Native American bison jump situated in the Madison Valley of southwestern Montana. The inscriptions are analyzed through the lens of Cultural Landscape Theory and their typology, distribution, and content are examined in detail. By looking at these inscriptions in this manner, opportunities for ongoing research are highlighted, the future potential of these types of inscriptions to contribute to a new interpretive is examined, and the challenges of appropriate conservation strategies is considered. This thesis presents the argument that inscriptions such as these aid in telling a narrative of those who came before, and can reveal forgotten aspects of early Euro-American life and cultural practices on the American frontier, while similarly aiming to promote the potential of historic inscriptions to contribute to the cultural significance and interpretation of heritage sites.

Recommended Citation

Vest, Jay Thomas, "An Investigation of Historic Euro-American Inscriptions at Madison Buffalo Jump" (2019). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11504.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11504