Head‑Smashed‑In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Fort Macleod, Alberta, was used by Indigenous peoples to drive bison over an 11‑metre cliff for thousands of years. archaeologist Bob Dawe estimates the practice may have sapnned 7,500 years, turning a natural gorge into a lethal hunting arena that fed entire communities.

Bob Dawe’s 7,500‑Year Estimate of Site Use

Bob Dawe,a renowned Alberta archaeologist, has spent thousands of hours excavating the jump and concludes that Indigenous groups likely employed the cliff for roughly 7,500 years, possibly longer. He notes that the geography— a valley funneling herds toward a sheer drop— offered “the perfect trap,” a design “an architect wouldn’t draw up a better plan ,” according to Dawe’s statements.

The 11‑Metre Cliff: A Natural Bison Trap

The cliff’s drop measures about 11 metres today, but Dawe believes the original fall was higher, with a bone‑filled pit that may have extended dozens of metres deep. When the herd plunged, the resulting chaos of screaming animals, dust, and frantic hunters created a scene Dawe desscribes as “brutal but fantastic,” underscoring the physical danger of handling full‑grown bison weighing up to 900 kilograms.

Bone Quarry Trade : From Alberta to the Eastern US

Below the jump, a noticeable indentation dating to 1920 marks an early 20th‑century bone quarry. Dawe explains that bone extracted from the site was shipped to the eastern United States, where it served as a whitening agent for cane sugar. This commercial link illustrates how the jump’s by‑products entered broader economic networks beyond the local Indigenous economy.

Unanswered Count: How Many Bison Fell Each Hunt?

Despite extensive research, Dawe admits that key details remain unknown, including the exact number of bison that could be driven over the cliff in a single hunt. He also questions whether the site’s use extended beyond the 7,500‑year window he proposes, leaving room for future excavation in untouched areas to clarify these gaps.

Tourism Boost and Ongoing Excavations

In January,the site saw a modest tourism surge after a mention on a Golden Globe‑winning TV medical drama,bringing new visitors to the interpretive centre that showcases Blackfoot culture and archaeological finds. Dawe says new digs are slated to begin soon in previously unexplored sections, promising fresh insights into the scale and organization of the annual late‑summer hunts.