 Tepe rings are what archaeologists call the circle of stones that remain at a Native American campsite on the Great Plains. Thousands of intact or nearly intact groups of tepe rings have been identified throughout Wyoming. Tepe's were conical tents made of buffalo or other animal hides, used as housing for the nomadic people of the plains. Available rocks were used to weigh down the edges of these houses. When the camp moved, the tepe's were taken down and moved with the camp, but of course the rocks were left behind, resulting in a series of stone circles on the ground. With the introduction of the metal axe, wooden pegs gradually replaced stones for holding down the skins. Rings are typically 6 to 25 feet in diameter and often occur in groupings. The size of the tepe ring varies based on season of use, marital status, family size, owner's wealth and ethnic affiliation. The general configuration of a tepe ring is an entrance where there are no stones, heavily anchored sides with extra stones for protection against prevailing winds, and possibly a hearth in the center, suggesting a winter encampment. In the summer, food was cooked in open-air hearths. Although the rocks in the circle have often been somewhat scattered, each ring reflects the architecture of the tepe that once sat there. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Mae Smith, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.