NO. lO NEBRASKA ARCHEOLOGY STRONG 73 



rather than in the few elevated areas, which we avoided. Our pre- 

 conceptions in this case were due to earher experience along the Mis- 

 souri River, where old lodges are marked by pits as the result of their 

 original subterranean nature. Fortunately, we were joined at this time 

 by A. T. Hill, who informed us that the house previously excavated 

 here had been marked by a low mound. With his assistance, and after 

 sinking numerous test pits, we selected a small rise just southeast of 

 excavation 2, which proved to be a house site, apparently closely 

 similar to that which had been torn up on the south side of the small 

 draw. 



METHODS OF EARTH LODGE EXCAVATION 



Prior to discussing this site in particular it may be well to devote a 

 short space to the matter of house site excavation in general. In our 

 earlier work in Nebraska trenching methods were employed both to 

 facilitate refilling and because in many cases it was impossible to leave 

 a larger excavatjon open between week-end trips. Allowing for the 

 inevitable modifications of technique at certain sites, our system was 

 generally as follows. Having determined the circumference of the 

 mound (or pit), its height (or depth), and the central point, four 

 large datum posts were set up at the cardinal points well beyond the 

 assumed edge of the house itself. A diagram or floor plan was then 

 made, dividing the entire area into 3-foot squares, lettered from north 

 to south and numbered from east to west. A row was then dug 

 out from north to south in the center completely bisecting the 

 mound (or pit) and extending well beyond and below the house 

 structure thus cross-sectioned. The dirt thus removed was piled on 

 the east side of the trench so that the west half of the house could 

 be completely excavated. In this way the dirt pile could be kept just 

 behind the advancing workers. Each section was carefully measured 

 and staked ofif, each worker removing a 3-foot section at a time 

 (pi. 12, figs. I, 3). As each north-to-south row was removed the west 

 wall thus revealed was diagramed. The depth of the excavation in 

 all places reached into undisturbed soil, and a progressive series of 

 house cross-sections was thus obtained. Having completed the western 

 half of the house we returned to the center, and having cleared ofif 

 and excavated the first row to the east, the work was similarly carried 

 on to the eastern limits of the house. Naturally, the trench was nar- 

 rowed down in following out passageways (fig. 5). 



The necessity of returning to the center of the house and removing 

 the dirt heap here prior to excavating the second half may be avoided 

 by starting the initial trench on one edge of the house site and carrying 



