A string of small features, representing a living floor site, form a circle around each oxidized basin.
Most of the excavations of Barton Gulch were done by Dr. Les Davis, a professor at Montana State University, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Identified at Barton Gulch were remains of charred seeds, stems, spines, and other elements from over thirty different plant species.
These discoveries suggest that the people of the area used plants for various purposes such as food, medicine, in ceremonies, tools and weapons.
[7] Remains of earth ovens at Barton Gulch were identified as a possible technique of processing plants and animals into food.
The presence of earth ovens and other cooking features implies that the people had detailed procedures for preparing plant and animal remains.