NO. 2 SALVAGE PROGRAM, I95O-I95I — COOPER 3 



the three largest reservoirs in the Basin — Fort Randall, Garrison, and 

 Oahe — was in progress and on the first two had been for several 

 years. It was known that in the Oahe Reservoir alone virtually 

 hundreds of sites, many exceedingly large and showing evidence of 

 long or repeated occupancy, would be flooded. There in late pre- 

 historic and early historic times dwelt a number of semisedentary 

 agricultural groups, the remains of whose earth-lodge villages are 

 among the most impressive sites in the northern United States. Not- 

 withstanding the known presence of the many sites containing irre- 

 placeable data which were certain to be lost in the near future, no 

 excavation other than some small-scale test trenching and the emer- 

 gency removal of a mound in the Fort Randall spillway area had been 

 possible in previous years in any of the reservoirs on the main stem 

 of the Missouri River. With a substantial increase in funds ear- 

 marked for excavation in fiscal year 1950, and presuming that similar 

 funds would be available in subsequent years, the prospect of achiev- 

 ing a significant sampling of the doomed remains seemed much 

 brighter. 



The funds were not only greater than in the past, but they became 

 available so late that there was little drain on them for fieldwork in 

 calendar year 1949. Consequently a sizable sum was unexpended at 

 the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 1950. The large carryover 

 permitted the planning and execution of a large-scale program in the 

 summer of 1950, despite the fact that the passage of the appropriation 

 bill for fiscal year 195 1 was delayed until late fall. A similar state 

 of affairs existed on June 30, 1951. Such a situation is advantageous 

 for a program of summer fieldwork which of necessity utilizes stu- 

 dent labor, ordinarily available only if firm commitments for a full 

 season's employment can be made. It is difficult if not impossible to 

 program effectively for the final quarter of one fiscal year and the 

 first quarter of the next without knowledge of what funds will be 

 available, and when. 



In 1950, the Missouri Basin Project had six archeological parties 

 and one paleontological unit in the field. Of the former, one was a 

 reconnaissance team and five were engaged primarily in excavation. 

 An additional excavation unit, to investigate Indian sites in the Fort 

 Randall Reservoir, was planned but could not be activated because of 

 inability to obtain supervision for it. Accordingly, the only unit 

 functioning in that reservoir was one which was committed to exca- 

 vation mainly in sites of White origin. Again in 195 1, there were a 

 single archeological reconnaissance party and one paleontological 



