🪶 Rediscovering Native American Adornment: Wyoming’s River Bend Site Reveals 5,000+ Artifacts

Early Native American Adornment Secrets Uncovered At Wyoming's River Bend SiteCredit: Pelton et al, Plains Anthropologist (2025) | Indian Defence Review

A recent archaeological study has shed new light on the adornment practices of Native American tribes in the early 1700s, during the transitional period of European contact. The River Bend site near Casper, Wyoming, originally excavated in the 1970s, has now been reexamined—revealing over 5,000 artifacts that offer a rare glimpse into Indigenous craftsmanship, trade, and cultural adaptation.

🏞️ The River Bend Site: A Forgotten Treasure

Located near the North Platte River, the River Bend site was initially excavated as part of a salvage operation before construction. For decades, the collection sat largely neglected, with missing labels and field notes. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Spencer Pelton and his team, the site has now been thoroughly analyzed and its historical significance restored.

🧵 What the Artifacts Reveal

The assemblage includes materials made from:

• Bone, stone, and antler
• Shells and ocher
• Metal tools and ornaments

These items reflect a mix of pre-contact traditions and post-contact innovations, showing how Native communities—possibly the Eastern Shoshone—adapted to new materials while preserving cultural identity.

Notable finds:

• 🏹 Tri-notched arrow points (linked to Shoshone sites)
• 🪨 Steatite (soapstone) bowls
• 🪓 Teshoas (split cobbles used for hide processing)
• 🐚 Shell disk beads and Olivella shells (suggesting long-distance trade)
• 🦷 Elk ivory pendants (a shift from earlier shell-based adornments)
• 🪛 Iron awls and knives (early European trade items)

🔍 Cultural Significance

Adornment in Plains Indian societies wasn’t just decorative—it signified status, achievements, and tribal identity. The River Bend site captures a moment of cultural transition, where traditional forms met new influences. The presence of marine shells and European iron tools points to expanding trade networks and evolving fashion trends.

🧭 Why It Matters

This rediscovery offers a deeper understanding of how Indigenous communities navigated change while maintaining core traditions. It also highlights the importance of preserving and revisiting archaeological collections that may hold untapped historical insights.

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📚 Source: Indian Defence Review – Early Native American Adornment in Wyoming