Yellowstone’s cultural and physical landscape
Emma Klemperer (she/they)
Hometown: Woodside, CA
Major: BS Biology, BA Archeology, '25
Internship: Yellowstone National Park
Emma Klemperer reflects on their experience working with the archaeology crew in Yellowstone National Park
Of the 63 national parks within the United States, Yellowstone is the oldest and, perhaps, one of the most well-known and beloved, boasting over 2.2 million acres of land rich with geothermal features, wildlife, and awe-inspiring views stretching across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. But there is one oft-neglected feature that is especially intriguing: Yellowstone’s cultural significance, both historically and in the present day.
Though Yellowstone was founded in 1872 following several decades of exploration and documentation by settlers, its human history truly spans the last 11 millennia. Currently, there are 27 Native Tribes with historical and modern connections to the national park, though the park’s influence certainly extends beyond these groups. Perhaps the most well-known example of this influence is Yellowstone’s abundance of obsidian tools, sourced primarily from Obsidian Cliff, which have been found along trade routes across the United States and Canada, suggesting extensive tool creation and trade between groups.
Together, prehistoric artifacts like these (primarily flakes, which are a byproduct of stone tools like projectile points) and historic artifacts associated with non-Native peoples in the region make up a large, diverse, dense collection of artifacts across the park.
This summer, I have had the wonderful opportunity to join the archaeology crew working in Yellowstone to record, protect, and preserve this tangible cultural heritage present here in the park. Much of our time is spent documenting the condition of archaeological sites, a task which helps us to understand how natural and human-caused damage changes the integrity and longevity of sites.
We have been focusing in particular on quantifying and describing the impacts a recent flood has had on archaeological sites. In June 2022, the greater Yellowstone area experienced a severe, historic flood event, the effects of which include, but are certainly not limited to, the destruction of the north entrance road and the loss of homes for hundreds of residents. The flooding of two major tributaries of the Missouri River, the Yellowstone and the Gallatin, are implicated in altering the physical landscape of tens, if not hundreds, of archaeological sites within the park. Sites on riverbanks were washed away or submerged, artifacts previously buried were unearthed and scattered, and many sites were covered in and obscured by cobble and trash piles washed over them.
Not only has this given me the opportunity to learn about state and federal archaeology procedures, especially those in a confusing, uncertain context, but it has also given me insight into the back-end planning and paperwork that is necessary to ensure proper documentation is made and records are kept.
And while the flood has irrevocably changed the Yellowstone landscape, seeing the aftermath has given me a greater appreciation for the timelessness of Yellowstone’s natural beauty and the possibilities it provides to visitors and employees. Working and living here has given me the opportunity to enjoy seeing plants and animals we don’t have back in California, meet friends and coworkers with vastly different backgrounds and experiences, and explore the many careers possible with the National Park Service.
