It’s taken several thousand years, but the historical value of one of the most outstanding cultural sites in North America is finally being recognized. In a public gathering at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 22, the Hell Gap National Historic Landmark will be of
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HELL GAP – It’s taken several thousand years, but the historical value of one of the most outstanding cultural sites in North America is finally being recognized. In a public gathering at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 22, the Hell Gap National Historic Landmark will be officially recognized.
According to archaeological research, which has been on-going at the site northeast of Guernsey for several decades, early residents of this area frequented the small valley between 8,000-12,000 years ago. Artifacts recovered include tools, as well as animal bone and spear point fragments.
Dr. Marcel Kornfeld, director of the Hell Gap excavation for several years, said there are 26,000 National Historic Landmarks in the United States. The majority are on the East and West coasts, and consist of ships, homes of famous people, other historic structures, etc.
“Only about 15 are Paleoindian sites. That figures to about one site in about three states, and some don’t have any,” Kornfeld said. “With Hell Gap, Wyoming has four – the Horner site, Medicine Wheel Mountain, and Obsidian Cliff (Yellowstone).”
Some of those involved in getting official recognition during the past five years, wondered if it would ever happen. Judy Wolf, Chief Planning and Historic context Development Program at the State Historic Preservation Office, in Cheyenne, gets credit for taking on the project and seeing it through.
A graduate of the University of Wyoming Anthropology program, Wolf had considered the designation for several years, but nothing seemed to happen. Professional archaeologists and others were busy with their own projects with little or no time for Hell Gap research.
Finally, Wolf asked Nick Freeland, a UW graduate student, if he would take on the challenge. He did, and is credited with being the principal author of the proposal. Even then it was a long process, with each step having to get approval from a board.