NO. lO NEBRASKA ARCHEOLOGY STRONG 33 



swift rivers and streams such as the North Platte, Niobrara, White, 

 Pumpkin, and Lodgepole. These have formed numerous troughs or 

 valleys, of which that of the Platte is the largest and deepest. In 

 between these troughs are the most elevated portions of the State, 

 comprising the still undissected High Plains surface. In places large 

 areas such as the Cheyenne and the Box Butte plains have retained 

 this old high surface ; elsewhere rough hills and prominent buttes pro- 

 ject from the eroded areas as remnants of the old level. The Pine ridge 

 on the north edge of the Box Butte plains and the Wildcat range 

 between the North Platte and the Pumpkin are striking examples of 

 the latter, at the same time indicating by their intricate and steep- 

 walled canyons and sheer flanks the destructive power of the forces 

 of erosion. Although different in composition and form, the true Bad 

 Lands of northwestern Nebraska, which are an extension to the south- 

 west of the Dakota Bad Lands, present much the same general appear- 

 ance as do the eroded buttes and tablelands to the south. 



The High Plains region in general may be characterized as a short- 

 grass country with grama grass, buffalo grass, and various grasslike 

 sedges predominant. Along the rougher portions are scattered yellow 

 pines which on the Pine Ridge and similar areas are numerous enough 

 to form small coniferous woodlands. The pines occur on the canyon 

 walls and talus slopes, and willows and cottonwoods flourish on the 

 bottom lands and wherever surface or subsoil water is available. In 

 between such areas extend the rather flat, open plains marked by low 

 shrubs in sheltered places, some sagebrush, yucca, and a few small 

 species of cactus. The buffaloberry, wild plum, wild cherry, currant, 

 gooseberry, and sand cherry are among the edible native products of 

 the region. Much of the limited rainfall is absorbed by the shallow 

 water table, but there is some run-off after heavy storms. Certain 

 streams, being fed by springs, are continuous throughout the year and 

 in their deep canyons are occasional small ponds and marshes resulting 

 from the work of beavers. Of the larger streams the North Platte, 

 fed by mountain water, as well as the spring-fed branches of the Loup 

 and the Dismal Rivers, are continuous at all seasons. The soils of 

 greatest distribution in the High Plains region are close-textured, 

 sandy, and alkaline. Although they are fertile and readily cultivated, 

 they do not produce ordinary late-maturing crops, owing to the lack of 

 precipitation. Native to the region were large numbers of buffalo, 

 prong-horn antelope, and mule deer. In addition, the coyote, kit fox, 

 badger, beaver, black-footed ferret, striped ground squirrel, prairie 

 dog, white-tailed jackrabbit, and smaller rodents are still abundant. In 

 the limited coniferous woodland areas occur such forms as the yellow- 



