UM digs find a 10,000-year-old Native oasis

Thousands of years before Euro-Americans “discovered” the bubbling mudpots and eruptive geysers of what is now Yellowstone National Park, early Americans were spending part of their summer camping in the Yellowstone Lake area.

“It’s always been a destination resort,” said Elaine Hale, park archaeologist. “For at least 10,000 years people have been using the lake area.” ... More (Posted: Friday, April 2, 2010).

This large obsidian point was found near Lake Lodge in Yellowstone National Park in 2009. It’s 150 percent bigger than other spear points of the time, prompting researchers to believe it was used for ceremonial purposes. MICHAEL C. LIVERS photo.