NO. 10 NEBRASKA ARCHEOLOGY STRONG 5 



dug up, hoarded for a while, then, unless they can be sold to other col- 

 lectors for a paltry sum, to be lost and forgotten. Persons of the first 

 type may be scientific archeologists in the making ; those of the second 

 type uselessly destroy the very stufif of human history. 



Like all professions, sciences, and arts, archeology must be learned, 

 for it involves methods and techniques which, though often basically 

 simple, are fundamental. Furthermore, it deals with extremely limited 

 and perishable aspects of human history, and such evidence if once 

 destroyed is irreplaceable. The specimen wrenched from its context 

 means little or nothing. The story that is hidden in the ground is 

 the significant thing, and this is totally destroyed by careless or un- 

 skilled excavation. Therefore the beginner in archeology who is truly 

 interested in the subject will do no digging. This need not stop his 

 field activity, however, for in nearly all regions there are numerous 

 specimens to be found on the surface of the ground, in plowed fields, 

 and in cut banks. A collection of such artifacts carefully labeled as 

 to the exact place of finding has great scientific value. When system- 

 atic archeology begins in any region, such collections furnish the first 

 leads toward tracing out the prehistory of the area. 



If the worker's interest grows stronger he should get in close touch 

 with the centers of archeological research in his State,^ and having 

 fully equipped himself for the task, will be in a position to contribute 

 a larger share toward the elucidation of the prehistoric problems of 

 the region. 



INTRODUCTION 



Despite the fact that geological, geographical, and faunistic con- 

 siderations all suggest the Great Plains as a highly probable home 

 for early man in North America, while the great river valleys of 

 the plains have from time immemorial offered migration routes and 

 ideal habitation sites for both hunting and horticultural peoples, an 

 idea seems to have been prevalent that the region had no archeology 

 worthy of the name. It is the purpose of the present paper to present 

 the results so far attained through historic and prehistoric archeologi- 

 cal research in certain portions of only one of the central States of 

 this great natural area. Although modern political boundaries ob- 

 viously need have no ethnic significance, they serve as convenient and 



* Usually the State University, historical society, or museum is more or less 

 active in such research. Contacts with active and trained workers in any part 

 of the United States may also be made by writing the Committee on State 

 Archaeological Surveys (of the) National Research Council, Washington, D. C, 

 or the Bureau of American Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 

 D. C. 



