Pictograph Cave (Montana)
USA · Americas
Three sandstone shelters near Billings whose paintings include warriors, shields and early firearms.
Age
~2,100 yrs
Period
Late Prehistoric
Setting
Rock shelter
Art form
Paintings
Discovered
1937
Status
Open to Visitors
Just south of Billings, three sandstone caves sheltered people for thousands of years and preserve more than a hundred paintings. Warriors carrying shields, animals and even rifles record the long span of occupation, and the 1930s excavations here helped establish the archaeology of the Northern Plains.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ 100+ pictographs over millennia
- ◦ Shield-bearing warriors and rifles
- ◦ Landmark Northern Plains excavation
Depicted Subjects
WarriorsAnimalsWeapons
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.