86 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL, I26 



former of which have been described by Kivett (1952). This pot- 

 tery is characterized by decoration of the rim area, predominantly 

 with single-cord-impressed lines or nodes. Hurt has also distinguished 

 another component in the upper part of the Woodland deposits at 

 the Scalp Creek site in w4iich there are cord-marked vessels with flar- 

 ing, undecorated rims (or with only the lip decorated) and vessels 

 whose outer rims are decorated with horizontal incised or trailed lines, 

 usually below a band of short impressed lines. Shallow fireplaces 

 occurred throughout the Woodland level, but evidences of structures 

 were absent except for two patternless clusters of small post molds 

 and areas which suggested floors. Rather small shallow pits were 

 numerous, and large bell-shaped cache pits were entirely absent. No 

 evidence of corn or other cultivated plants was found, although a few 

 scapula hoes were present. The suspicion that corn cultivation was 

 practiced seems warranted, in view of the probable relative recency 

 of the complex and, especially, in view of Kivett's report of corn 

 in one of the related Loseke Creek sites (Kivett, 1952, p. 57). 



Site 39BF3 (the Talking Crow site), an earth-lodge village on a 

 low terrace in the upper part of the Fort Randall Reservoir area, has 

 intrigued archeologists for some time, primarily because of the variety 

 of the ceramic remains collected from its surface. The University 

 of Kansas, through Carlyle S. Smith, assumed the responsibility for 

 the intensive investigation of this site, which proved upon excavation 

 to be as complex as was suspected. A party of a dozen to 15 workers 

 spent approximately two months each of the years 1950 and 195 1 in 

 the Talking Crow site and an additional season's work was planned 

 for 1952. By the end of the 195 1 field season, seven houses, not all 

 of which were marked by surface depressions ; a refuse mound ; and 

 many cache pits and other features had been excavated and test 

 trenching had uncovered parts of such defensive features as the 

 bastioned ditch, stockade, and a mound that may have served in 

 place of the stockade at the eastern edge of the site. A few burials 

 had been encountered in various parts of the village. Houses were 

 basically circular, with central fireplace, four center posts, outer posts 

 generally closely spaced around the perimeter, and vestibule entrance. 

 A number of features were found in stratigraphic relationship, and 

 the contents of the refuse mound, excavated in 6-inch levels, appeared 

 to show ceramic changes from bottom to top. 



Two pottery wares, not previously isolated, have been described 

 and named by Smith. They are the Talking Crow and Campbell 

 Creek wares. The former is characterized by simple-stamped globu- 

 lar bodies, frequently somewhat flattened shoulders, and straight high 



