River Basin Surveys Papers, No. 22: Archeological Investigations in the Coralville Reservoir, Iowa

Summary

During the winter of 1949, a preliminary reconnaissance of the south-central portion of the Iowa River valley was carried out by the River Basin Surveys, Smithsonian Institution, in an effort to determine the archeological potential of the area to be submerged by the waters of the then projected Coralville Reservoir. Temporal considerations prevented an intensive investigation of the region; however, the recovered data (Wheeler, 1949) made it obvious that further, more thorough work, was desirable.

In the autumn of 1956, with the dam nearing completion, a more adequate survey became a matter of urgency. Although the Coralville Reservoir lies outside the Missouri Basin, the Missouri Basin Project of the River Basin Surveys was able to undertake the investigations. Funds to carry on the field activities and laboratory research were transferred to the Smithsonian Institution from the appropriation for Archeological Salvage Work Outside the Missouri Basin. For reasons of administrative convenience and economy, the Smithsonian Institution administered the work through its Missouri Basin Project office in Lincoln, Nebr. The research and administrative supervision was by regular Missouri Basin Project staff members. This report is based upon a 6-week field study carried out during September and October of 1956. An excavation crew, varying from 6 to 10 men, served faithfully in a difficult field situation. In particular, thanks should be extended to Lee G. Madison of the Missouri Basin Project, River Basin Surveys, who officiated as a competent and perceptive field assistant.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• River Basin Surveys Papers, 1 - 39   •
• National Archeological Database (NADB)

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Sponsor(s): National Park Service

Record Identifiers

River Basin Surveys Papers(s): 22

NADB document id number(s): 642078; 5601271

NADB citation id number(s): 000000240088; 000000098959

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