THE HARTVILLE UPLIFT — When considering the Hartville Uplift, one may not realize how the area’s geologic resources have significantly contributed to our cultural past. Nearly 13,000 years ago, Paleo-Indians mined red ochre or hematite at what is now considered by archaeologists as one of the oldest mining sites in all of North America!

Chipping stones were also discovered at what has become known as the “Spanish Diggings” site also within the Hartville Uplift. These ancient quarries were first thought to be the result of gold-prospecting expeditions from the Spanish. However, by 1935 archaeologists were documenting the 10,000+year history of Indian groups on the High Plains. It then became more accepted that this was likely the work of groups of hunters that had lived in the region and quarried stone for projective points, knives, scrapers and other tools.

Fast-forward to the 1800s and the rocks of Hartville Uplift were discovered to contain copper and iron resources. Up sprung the mining town of Sunrise and just outside of that mining town, the rough and tumble town of Hartville, the oldest incorporated town in Wyoming.

Red Ochre and Clovis

By Chamois Andersen

Recently discovered at the historic Sunrise Iron Mine, near Hartville, red ochre was used as a pigment and has also been recorded at prehistoric burial sites around the world. Archaeologists excavating the ancient mine at the Sunrise location have also discovered Clovis points (some of beautiful blue agate-type material) and other Paleo-Indian artifacts (ranging in age from 11,000 to 13,000 years old).

The area is rich in all sorts of hard sedimentary rock known as cherts, including pink, dark brown, red and gray as well as the limestones and dolomites of the Guersey and Hartville formations. Archaeologists and geologists have collaborated to better investigate the source of the chipping material. At the Sunrise Mine they have noted a rich conglomerate deposit of chert, jasper and quartzite, the material used to create tools and projectile points. For example, a large piece of chert discovered at the Sunrise Mine, was likely the result of a mass movement of rock caused by active faults in the area.