Bird Tracks at the Hot Springs Mammoth Site,South Dakota,USA

The Hot Springs Mammoth Site, South Dakota, USA, has been excavated for over three decades, during which time numerous body fossils have been recorded. The site is particularly well known for the skeletal remains of mammalian megafauna. Bedding plane surfaces were studied that displayed the first record of small vertebrate (avian) and invertebrate traces. While large vertebrate tracks, often observed in cross-section, are well known at the site, the new traces form a hitherto unstudied assemblage.

The presence of distinct didactyl and tridactyl avian tracks from the site are described here for the first time. The small (～20 mm long) tracks and associated invertebrate traces suggest relatively high moisture content in the substrate on surfaces that experienced aerial or subaerial exposure. This is consistent with the interpretation that the upper layers of the site represent the latter stages of a sinkhole setting with a pond undergoing cyclical drying out.     

Salvage Archaeology at a Site Near Fort Thompson. South Dakota

Abstract

Construction of dams and reservoirs along the Missouri River has resulted in an accelerated program of archaeological field-work. Many sites have been surveyed, numerous others tested, and a lesser number extensively excavated. Surveys and test excavations will add to previously gathered data in terms of the geographical distribution of diagnostic artifacts, speculative routes of migration and cultural diffusion. The minutiae from the tested sites may offer reasons for the re-evaluation of established concepts or they may strengthen current archaeological interpretations.

The Farm School site, reported here, received limited tests. The artifact inventory suggests the presence of 2 ceramic components and contributes to information regarding the Fort Thompson and Campbell Creek foci in South Dakota.     

Site 39Lm219 In The Big Bend Reservoir,South Dakota

Abstract

Site 39LM219, an earth-lodge village located in the neck of the Big Bend of the Missouri River in Lyman County, South Dakota, is assigned to the Chouteau Aspect and is presumed to date at about A. D. 1700. Probably the site is part of the Crazy Bull Site previously described in this journal.     

Architectural Features of Houses at the Mitchell Site (39Dv2), Eastern South Dakota

Abstract

While gathering economic and environmental data from the Mitchell site in 1971, one house and part of anotherwere excavated. The more completely excavated structure had burned, and provided evidence for a number of architectural features. This house was a rectangular structure with walls of wattle and daub construction and a roof composed of poles overlain by willows and grass. Both houses were constructed in pits, cut into a deeply buried, black “fossil” soil which appears to represent the prairie soil at the time the site was initially occupied. The surface of this fossil soil was buriedabout three feet below the modern surface by a mantle of mixed soil and midden debris. Profiles from the burned house indicate that the thick mantle of mixed soil and midden was the result of banking the walls of the house with quantities of soil and habitation debris.     

The Gillette Site (39ST23), Oahe Reservoir,South Dakota

Abstract

Fieldwork at the Gillette Site primarily cons is ted of the partial excavation ofthreecircular houses, across section of a fortification ditch, and the removal of a buriaL The latest occupation, Component A, is identified as a manifestation of the Stanley or Snake Butte focus, dating from about 1700 to 1800 A. D. Component B represents a circular house tradition probably belonging to an earlier period in the Coalescent Tradition than does Component A. The limited data from Component C implies a village occupation of an indeterminate cultural affiliation earlier than Component B.     

Seed Analysis and its Implications for an Initial Iviiddle Missouri Site in South Dakota

Abstract

This report contains an analysis of the carbonized seed remains from the Mitchell Site (39DV2), an Over Focus village near Mitchell, South Dakota. The motive for the study is to explore the amount and kinds of nutritional and material resources which the botanical world (of seeds) provided these villagers. Eight propositions and goals are outlined to be tested by the analysis. The use of flotation and sieving through #40 (.0165 in.) mesh screen of all materials was found to be the most efficient method for recovering seed remains. Forty-five genera and species of prehistorically-deposited (carbonized) seeds are identified. Corn appears in nearly all samples, suggesting that this crop, along with bison meat, provided a major source of food. Quantities of the weed seeds Chenopodium sp. and Amaranthus sp. are clearly associated with corn and seeds of the domesticated sunflower. Tobacco seeds are also identified for the second time on the Plains. A table of associations and specific Chi-square tests are used to interpret the relative significance of the seeds identified here. In addition, ethnographic data on the use of particular seed types is included where no archaeological use can be inferred.     

Crazy Bull Site (39LM220), Big Bend Reservoir,South Dakota

Abstract

The Crazy Bull site (39LM220), is an, earth lodge village situated in the neck of the Big Bend of the Missouri River, Lyman County, South Dakota, One-half of a circular earth lodge and a midden area were excavated in July, 1959, by Warren Caldwell of the Smithsonjan Institution, River Basin Surveys. Iona Ware, Talking Crow Straight Rim, and Cadotte Collared pottery made up most of the rim sherd sample, Brass fragments in the house fill indicate a late occupation for the site, Due to a close ceramic relationship with the Spain site, the Crazy Bull site was assigned to the Chouteau Aspect.     

A demographic analysis of skeletons from the Larson site (39WW2) Walworth County,South Dakota: Vital statistics

A life table methodology was used for paleodemographic analysis of skeletons from the Larson site (39WW2), an Arikara village and cemetery dated to circa A.D. 1750–1785. Vital statistics on mortality, survivorship, age-specific probability of death, life expectancy and crude mortality rate were derived from skeletal data. The population had an extremely high infant mortality rate and high rates of childhood mortality. The lowest probability of death was for adolescents. Mortality increased for young adults, ages 15–19. This increase was especially marked for females, the actual peak of adult female mortality was during ages 15–19. A second mode in the female mortality curve occurred at ages 35–39. The greatest percentage of male deaths was observed in the fourth decade, ages 30–34. Only 4.0% of the population attained the age of 50. The population crude death rate was 76 per thousand per year. This estimate, although high, is congruent with archaeological and historical sources which report a rapid Arikara population decline during the Post-Contact period. Causes of specific deaths appear to be linked to childbirth (affecting mother and infant), starvation, diseases especially tuberculosis, and intertribal warfare.     

The Fire Cloud Site (39BF237), Buffalo County,South Dakota

Abstract

A bottle-necked cache pit was excavated near Old Fort Thompson, Buffalo County, South Dakota in June of 1955 by a University of Kansas field party as part of a non-reservoir salvage project.

The site is interesting due to the presence of three variants of Talking Crow Straight Rim pottery apparently unreported up to this time. These consist of a square orifice vessel, a vessel incorporating what most closely resembles Stanley Tool Impressed incised lip decoration, and a vessel bearing three bands of differing design motifs on the lip and upper rim exterior.

This site is tentatively assigned to the Fort Thompson focus of the Pahuk aspect. It probably dates to the first half of the 18th century.     

The Fox Island Site (39DW230), Dewey County,South Dakota

Abstract

An examination of this site on the west bank of the Missouri River in north-central South Dakota has revealed an unfortified settlement of approximately 30 earthlodges. The settlement pattern and artifact inventory indicate that the Fox Island site is an Extended Coalescent village that appears to be a descendant of the complex defined at Mols, tad Village.     

An Analysis Of Ceramics from the Gettysburg Site, 39PO209, Potter County,South Dakota

Abstract

Ceramics recovered from the Gettysburg Site during the summers of 1964, 1965, and 1966 are described and analyzed. A comparison is made with ceramic collections from 19 other sites in the Middle Missouri Valley. Concluding comments demonstrate the relationship of the Gettysburg Site to sites of the Extended Coalescent Horizon.     

A Human Skeleton from the Gillette Site (39ST23), Stanley County,South Dakota

Abstract

A skeleton excavated from a refuse area at the Gillette Site proved to be that of an adult male of advanced age.     

Salmonella Serotypes Encountered at the South Dakota Animal Diagnostic Laboratory

This paper summarizes the various Salmonella serotypes isolated from feed samples and cases of salmonellosis in domestic animals between 1 January 1970 and 1 June 1972.     

An Assessment Of The Radiocarbon Dates For The Helb Site, 39Ca208, South Dakota

Abstract

Eleven radiocarbon dates from the Helb site (39CA208) in north-central South Dakota are presented and interpreted by techniques recently advanced by other authors. The results appear to substantiate two occupations of the site, one in the mid-eleventh century A.D. and anotherin the early or middle portion of the sixteenth century A.D.     

Metal Projectile Points From the Deapolis Site,North Dakota

Abstract

Almost nothing is known about what kinds of metal arrowheads were European trade items and which were made bythe various native groups. A large collection of such arrowheads was made at the 19th century Deapolis Mandan Village. Analysis of these specimens has not clarified the problem of European versus native manufacture although manufacturing techniques can clearly be seen on a few. However, a number of hypothetical taxonomic groups are postulated.