The Significance of Stone Features on the Northern Plains: Criteria A-D and Other Issues

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The complex set of interrelated stone circles on the northern Great Plains and where literally hundreds of thousands of stone circles exist as marks on the ground left by those who came before us and our direct ancestors are a trifecta of multi-component, multi-generational, multi-nation site complexes. These stone circles arise in singular patterns and large interrelated complexes. The contention of our traditional practitioners is that these sites are specific in use and application to the religious and cultural practices of those who placed them there so long ago. As they date to the late prehistoric, Late Archaic, and possibly into the Middle Archaic the oral traditions and religious practices of many nations tell of their use and application to our cultural life ways. There are some of these stone circles which were for the purpose of securing a tipi. Some stone circles can be associated with hearth features. Many more of the stone circles have an interconnected religious and spiritual use that is still known to the traditional practitioners of tribal groups. There are specific reasons why there are few artifacts associated with stone circles. These and other factors have impacted the protection and interpretation of stone circles.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24801