Late prehistoric period fired clay objects and zoomorphic figurines in the eastern Powder River Basin of Wyoming

Excavation of Late Prehistoric period sites in the eastern Powder Basin of Wyoming has uncovered broken fired clay zoomorphic figurines and fired clay objects. Fired clay figurines and objects in association with a local manifestation referred to as the Thunder Basin phase first appear around AD 600. Shortly after AD 1000 the local use of small diameter cylindrical pit hearths/ovens ceased along with the manufacture of fired clay objects including figurines. Fired clay objects and figurines have been recovered from 15 of the 29 Late Prehistoric period Thunder Basin phase sites excavated to date. The sites are in a 24 km north to south by 25 km east to west area. Complexity of how the fired clay objects and figurines are made varies from simple forming from a lump to modeling around wooden rods that range from 1 to 9 mm in diameter. Some objects retain the charred remains of these rods. The fired clay objects are placed in five categories: zoomorphic heads, zoomorphic snouts or beaks, zoomorphic bodies, cylinders, and lumps.