What Is Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump?

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a buffalo jump located where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains begin to rise from the prairie 18 km west of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on highway 785. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of a museum of Blackfoot culture.

What was Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump used for?

Operating Head-Smashed-In

A natural basin and an 8 kilometre network of over 500 stone cairns helped to funnel bison towards a 20 metre sandstone cliff. The Piikani named this cliff pis'kun, or the Buffalo Jump.

What human activity happened at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump?

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump bears witness to a communal hunting technique practiced by native people of the North American plains for nearly 6000 years. They killed buffalo by driving them off the 11 metre high sandstone cliff, close to a natural grazing area of the buffalo.

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Global Business & E-Commerce Reporter

Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.