Appraisal of the Archeological Resources of the Big Bend Reservoir South Dakota

Author(s): Harold A. Huscher; Charles H. McNutt

Year: 1958

Summary

This report summarizes the results of an intensive archeological reconnaissance of the proposed Big Bend Reservoir of central South Dakota. The survey was carried out as a part of the continuing program of the Missouri Basin project, Smithsonian Institution, which is directed toward the recovery of aboriginal and historical remains threatened by hydroelectric, flood control, and reclamation development of the Missouri River system. The Big Bend Reservoir will be one of several artificial lakes formed on the mainstem of the Missouri. As originally envisaged by the Pick-Sloan plan, the reservoirs will form a nearly continuous chain from the Nebraska-South Dakota border to the North Dakota-Montana border. As the waters impounded behind this dam system rise, the extensive flood plains and terrace developments of the present river valley will disappear. It is now apparent to anthropologists that the most intensive aboriginal occupation of the Northern Plains occurred within this narrow strip of land. Although the inhabitants varied in tribal

affiliation, language. and in details of custom, they developed a way of life that was one of the most distinctive in North America. It should be emphasized, therefore, that the reservoir system now being created will destroy not only a great number of aboriginal sites but also the total record of a distinctive cultural pattern.

A detailed appraisal of archeological resources is prerequisite to any program of intensive regional research. The specific aims of the survey are summarized as follows:

1. To relocate and appraise all sites listed previously.

2. To locate historic sites described in the early literature.

3. To explore both banks of the river for additional historic

and aboriginal sites in the reservoir area.

4. To collect surface samples of artifacts from each Site, if

possible.

5. To carry out limited test excavations at selected sites.

6. To produce a map and photographic record of all sites

recorded.

The field investigations that provide the basis for this assessment extended from June 2 through September 15, 1956. and from July 1 through September 2, 1957.

Cite this Record

Appraisal of the Archeological Resources of the Big Bend Reservoir South Dakota. Harold A. Huscher, Charles H. McNutt. 1958 ( tDAR id: 25240) ; doi:10.6067/XCV86975Q8

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Site Name
39BF10 • 39BF202 • 39BF203 • 39BF205 • 39BF206 • 39BF207 • 39BF208 • 39BF210 • 39BF211 • 39BF212 • 39BF214 • 39BF215 • 39BF216 • 39BF217 • 39BF218 • 39BF219 • 39BF220 • 39BF222 • 39BF225 • 39BF226 • 39BF227 • 39BF228 • 39BF229 • 39BF230 • 39BF231 • 39BF236 • 39BF301 • 39BF6 • 39BF8 • 39HE201 • 39HE202 • 39HE203 • 39HE204 • 39HE205 • 39HE206 • 39HU202 • 39HU203 • 39HU204 • 39HU205 • 39HU208 • 39HU209 • 39HU213 • 39HU214 • 39HU215 • 39HU216 • 39HU217 • 39HU218 • 39HU219 • 39HU221 • 39HU222 • 39HU223 • 39HU224 • 39HU225 • 39HU226 • 39HU227 • 39HU228 • 39HU229 • 39HU230 • 39HU231 • 39HU232 • 39HU233 • 39HU234 • 39HU235 • 39HU238 • 39HU239 • 39HU6 • 39HU61 • 39HU62 • 39HU63 • 39LM203 • 39LM206 • 39LM207 • 39LM208 • 39LM210 • 39LM211 • 39LM212 • 39LM213 • 39LM214 • 39LM215 • 39LM216 • 39LM217 • 39LM219 • 39LM221 • 39LM223 • 39LM224 • 39LM225 • 39LM226 • 39LM227 • 39LM228 • 39LM229 • 39LM230 • 39LM231 • 39LM232 • 39LM233 • 39LM234 • 39LM235 • 39LM236 • 39LM237 • 39LM239 • 39LM240 • 39LM241 • 39LM242 • 39LM243 • 39LM244 • 39LM245 • 39LM246 • 39LM84 • 39ST17 • 39ST218 • 39ST219 • 39ST220 • 39ST221 • 39ST222 • 39ST223 • 39ST224 • 39ST225 • 39ST226 • 39ST227 • 39ST228 • 39ST229 • 39ST230 • 39ST231 • 39ST234 • 39ST55 • 39ST56 • Akichita Site (39BF221) • Amos Shields Site (39HU220) • Arzberger Bottoms (39HU7) • Arzberger Site (39HU6) • Baker-Rohde Site (39HU206) • Black Hawk Village (39LM4) • Black Partizan Site (39LM218) • Bowers' Big Bend Site (39HU236) • Bowers' Big Bend Site (39HU237) • Bowers' La Roche Site (39ST232) • Bowers' Stone Point Site (39ST235) • Brother of All Site (39BF205) • Camel's Creek Village (Camel's Creek Village) • Campbell's Trading Post (39BF232) • Crazy Bull Site (39LM220) • Fort George Trading Post (39ST202) • Good Soldier Site (39LM238) • Grandle-Jones Site (39HU60) • Hickey Brothers Site (39LM4) • Huston Mounds (39HU212) • Huston Ranch Village (39HU212) • La Roche Village (39ST9) • Leisher Ranch Site (39HU207) • McClure Site (39HU7) • McKay Ranch Site (39HU210) • Medicine Creek Village (39LM2) • Medicine Creek Village (39LM222) • Medicine Crow Site (39BF2) • Mush Creek Site (39HU5) • Old Quarry Mounds ( 39BF234) • Olson Mounds (39BF223) • Presbyterian Church Mounds (39BF235) • Pretty Bull Site (39BF12) • Pretty Head Site (39LM232) • Red Cloud Agency III (39LM247) • Red Cloud Village (39LM2) • Side Hill Mounds (39BF233) • Stricker Villages (39LM1) • Talking Crow Site (39BF3) • Truman Mounds ( 39BF224) • Tuttle Site (39BF3) • Two Teeth Site (39BF204) • Walker Village (39LM209) • Walker Village (39LM3) • Wolf Creek Mounds (39BF213) Show More

Site Type
Reservoir

Investigation Types
Reconnaissance / Survey • Records Search / Inventory Checking • Research Design / Data Recovery Plan • Site Evaluation / Testing

General
Archaeological Resources • Archeological Resources • Cultural Chronology • Prehistory • Significance / Management

Geographic Keywords
46017 (Fips Code) • 46065 (Fips Code) • 46069 (Fips Code) • 46085 (Fips Code) • 46117 (Fips Code) • Buffalo (County) • Hughes (County) • Hyde (County) • Lyman (County) • North America (Continent) • South Dakota (State / Territory) • Stanley (County) • United States of America (Country)

Temporal Keywords
Historic

Spatial Coverage

min long: -101.167; min lat: 43.5 ; max long: -98.926; max lat: 44.898 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Anne Vawser

Sponsor(s): Missouri river basin, Region 2, National Parks Service, Omaha, Nebraska

Prepared By(s): Smithsonian Institution; Missouri Basin Project

Record Identifiers

NADB document id number(s): 922791

NADB citation id number(s): 000000121161

Notes

General Note: Sent from: Missouri Basin Proj., SI, Lincoln, NE

General Note: Submitted to: Missouri Riv. Basin Recre. Survey, Region 2, NPS, Omaha, NE

File Information

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Contact(s): Anne Vawser