An archaeological site in northeast Wyoming that captures more than a millennium of Indigenous history has officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places, Oil City News reports.
The Daly Petroglyphs, located in the Powder River Basin, were listed on the national registry on May 19, according to an announcement from the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The site features stone carvings estimated to span from 1,500 years ago through the mid-19th century.
According to SHPO, the images etched into stone reflect cultural and spiritual beliefs of Native American tribes that historically inhabited the region, particularly the Crow (Apsáalooke) people. Artistic representations include shield-bearing warriors, rectangular-bodied figures, geometric symbols, and depictions of hands.
First documented in the 1970s by Wyoming archaeologists Mavis and John Greer, the Daly Petroglyphs had remained relatively obscure until recent efforts by Ann Stephens, a University of Wyoming anthropology graduate student, led to the site’s formal nomination.
“By design alone, Daly is an impressive feat,” Stephens stated in a SHPO press release. “It features life-size, highly decorated warrior figures, the retelling of a Crow myth, and inscriptions of Indigenous names from the early 1800s — all carved into the same space.”
Stephens also emphasized the significance of the site’s visual cohesion. Unlike other petroglyph locations in Wyoming that may show isolated images or more fragmented timelines, the Daly Petroglyphs stand out for their narrative quality and chronological continuity.
Wyoming has around 600 locations listed in the National Register, ranging from historical buildings to significant archaeological sites. The addition of the Daly Petroglyphs places it among a select group that reflects the state’s deep cultural heritage.
More information about the Daly Petroglyphs and other historical sites can be found through the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places database.
