APPENDIX 5 



HUMAN SKELETAL MATERIAL FROM THE VICINITY 

 OF THE HOSTERMAN SITE (39P07), OAHE RESER- 

 VOIR, SOUTH DAKOTA 



By William M. Bass 



Department of Sociology and Anthropology^ University of Kansas 



INTRODUCTION 



The preceding article by Carl F. Miller describes the archeological 

 investigation of the Hosterman site (39P07) in Potter County, S. 

 Dak. No human skeletal material was recovered during his excava- 

 tions. In September of 1962, while boating on the Oahe Reservoir, 

 Richard Weeks of Pierre, S. Dak., discovered the partial remains of six 

 human burials eroding out of the east bank of the Missouri River and 

 sent the bones to me for identification. Mr. Weeks is an amateur col- 

 lector who, in the past few years, has checked the changing banks 

 caused by the rising waters of the Reservoir. I accompanied Mr. 

 Weeks on two such boat trips in the summer of 1962 and at that time 

 encouraged him to collect carefully all human skeletal material for 

 study. Charles L. Keeler, a student in anthropology, assisted in the 

 preparation of the material herein described. 



The skeletal material was found just north of Whitlocks Crossing on 

 the east side of the Reservoir at an elevation of 1,565-1,570 feet. The 

 location of the find corresponds to that of the Hosterman site, and the 

 burials therefore may have been associated with that earth-lodge 

 village. 



In his letter of transmittal, Mr. Weeks states that the skeletons were 

 found in three different concentrations. The first was found in 1 

 foot of water ; the ribs, vertebrae, and mandible were in the original 

 burial position in the mud with the rest of the bones scattered near- 

 by in the water. A few more scattered bones were found on the 

 bank approximately 30 feet south. A complete burial was found in 

 the bank about 10 feet from the first group. The skeleton "was on 

 its back, head toward the west, legs flexed to the right, arms down to 

 the sides with hands on pelvis" (Weeks, 1962, personal communi- 

 cation) . 



In no case were there any associated artifacts, covering, or anything 

 else which might suggest cultural affiliation. 



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