NO. 2 MISSOURI VALLEY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM — WEDEL 43 



that a manifestation vi^ith the potential importance indicated here 

 should be thoroughly investigated by trained specialists in archeology, 

 as well as by geologists, paleontologists, and soils experts. A com- 

 bined attack with all interested disciplines represented would doubt- 

 less remove many of the doubts and uncertainties that now surround 

 the findings, and would enable the site or sites to be placed in their 

 proper geological and archeological setting. 



SOUTH DAKOTA 



In South Dakota, there was no formal cooperative arrangement 

 between Federal and local agencies for scientific salvage work in 1947. 

 Archeological investigations were carried on by State-supported 

 agencies, however, and most of this work was in areas that will be 

 affected by the Federal water-control program. A summary of the 

 findings is included therefore in this report. 



Field work from June 10 to September i was sponsored jointly by 

 the University of South Dakota Museum, Vermillion, and the newly 

 created South Dakota Archaeological Commission, Pierre. Funds 

 for this work came partly from the State, and partly by private sub- 

 scription. E. E. Meleen was in charge of the field operations, with 

 W. H. Over acting in a general supervising capacity. 



From June 10 to June 30, excavations were carried on at the 

 LaRoche site, about 25 miles southeast of Pierre on the right bank 

 of the Missouri River in southeastern Stanley County. Situated on 

 a low terrace and marked by inconspicuous refuse-littered mounds, 

 this site is expected to be inundated by the proposed Big Bend Reser- 

 voir. Two circular lodge sites were opened, each characterized by 

 four center post molds, a central firepit, and a formerly covered 

 entryway opening toward the southeast. Potsherds, and objects of 

 chipped and ground stone, bone, horn, shell, and catlinite were re- 

 covered. Charred corncobs were quite common, predominantly of the 

 lo-row variety. The pottery shows many similarities to that from 

 protohistoric Pawnee village sites on the Loup River in central Ne- 

 braska, as well as to that from the upper levels of the Scalp Creek 

 village site in Gregory County, S. Dak. 



From July i to July 23, work was conducted at the Somers site, 

 on a high bluff about 2 miles northwest of the LaRoche site, in Stanley 

 County. Here numerous house pits are still visible, although the 

 former village living level is buried beneath 54 inches or more of 

 fine wind-blown dust. Limited manpower combined with the heavy 

 overburden prevented more than a light sampling of the site. Two 



