THE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND PALEONTO- 



LOGICAL SALVAGE PROGRAM IN 



THE MISSOURI BASIN, 1950-1951 



By PAUL L. COOPER 



River Basin Surveys, Smithsonian Institution 



(With 12 Plates) 



INTRODUCTION 



The Inter-Agency Salvage Program in the Missouri Basin con- 

 tinued in operation throughout calendar years 1950 and 1951 with 

 a number of institutions carrying on investigations of archeological 

 and paleontological remains to be destroyed by Federal water-control 

 projects. Activities were on a larger scale than previously because 

 of augmented funds available to the Missouri Basin Project and 

 increased participation by State-supported agencies. Through the 

 combined resources of the various institutions, selected sites in 11 

 reservoir areas were intensively investigated and many other reser- 

 voirs were surveyed more or less exhaustively. 



The Missouri Basin Project, a unit of the nation-wide River Basin 

 Surveys of the Smithsonian Institution, continued its studies of 

 archeological and paleontological resources to be lost as a result of 

 the present water-development program. Previous summary reports 

 (Wedel, 1947b, 1948, 1953a, and 1953b) have described in detail 

 the history, organization, and general background of the Survey, and 

 repetition here is not necessary. Suffice it to say that, since 1946, in 

 accordance with various interbureau agreements and operating with 

 funds provided by the Department of the Interior through the Na- 

 tional Park Service, the project has visited and examined for archeo- 

 logical and paleontological remains many proposed reservoir sites 

 and has submitted to the National Park Service reports on the results 

 together with recommendations for salvage where this was deemed 

 necessary. During part of this period it also has undertaken intensive 

 investigation of significant sites to be lost. 



This report is intended only as a brief review of progress made by 

 the Missouri Basin Project during 1950 and 1951, with summary 

 statements relative to the fieldwork of other agencies active in the 

 salvage program. It makes no attempt at reporting and evaluating 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS, VOL. 126, NO. 2 



