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Medicine Wheel

Medicine Wheel: Medicine Wheels are a rare and mysterious cultural feature found throughout the plains of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana and northern Wyoming. Imposing and visually impressive there is evidence to suggest that the medicine wheel served a variety of religious and ceremonial functions. At least some medicine wheels date back to around 5 500 years ago. Structurally they reflect a diversity of form and size. Theterm "medicine wheel" has been used since the late nineteenth century to describe a wide variety of aboriginal surface stone structures found on the northern plains.They are generally made up of a central cairn or circle of stone from the center of which radiates a series of rows of other stones. Though the true purpose of these stone constructions remains unknown, some aboriginal groups believe that they symbolize and reflect the dynamics and meaning of the universe.

To learn more about medicine wheels in Alberta, visit Alberta: How the West was Young -
Sundial Hill Medicine Wheel

Medicine Wheel

Medicine Wheel

Medicine Wheel in Southern Alberta

Medicine Wheel in Southern Alberta