The site is a Native American habitation site associated with the Skidi people, a branch of the Pawnee people, which may have been documented by an American exploratory expedition led by Stephen H. Long in 1820.

The Palmer Site's primary period of occupation is believed to have been in the early 19th century.

Its features include 120 lodge sites and a feature interpreted as a council circle, as well as a Native American burial ground, from which several burials were removed or relocated due to nearby road construction.

This village is believed to have been the site of the notorious Morning Star ceremony, a Skidi custom of human sacrifice.

It was also probably the home of Petalesharo, a Pawnee warrior of famously interrupted one of those ceremonies by rescuing that year's victim, a Comanche girl.