Riv. Bas. SUR. 
Pap. No. 26] SMALL SITES ABOUT FORT BERTHOLD—METCALF 53 
Rock cairns are abundant in the area. ‘Two, showing one or more 
lines of boulders extending from them, are described and the general 
pattern given. Others are noted in a section on tipi rings, with 
which they were associated. It appears probable that more than one 
motive existed for the construction of these features, and that a care- 
ful study of them will show chronological and cultural differences. 
Circular stone outlines, known as tipi rings, are of common occur- 
rence in the area. There seems to be good evidence that some of them, 
in some areas, resulted from the use of small boulders to anchor the 
covers of tipis, and it is noteworthy that a few of the outlines con- 
tained a central hearth. This, however, may not be their only origin. 
Some tribal groups are said to have marked the sites of eagle-trapping 
pits with a circular stone outline, other circles may be ceremonial in 
their origin and related to the outlines known as medicine wheels. 
A midden test made by the 1947 party yielded a good return of cul- 
tural material which we are unable at present to assign to any known 
group. Although some sherds from the site resemble a few from sites 
which are attributed to the Mandan, the Hidatsa, and the Crow, the 
bulk of the ceramic remains do not closely resemble the bulk of 
ceramic material from any of those sites. 
Each of the two other sites which were briefly tested showed evi- 
dence of two occupations. Very few artifacts were found at one of 
them, but fireplaces were present. At the other, 32DU9, a few non- 
descript sherds came from the lowest level of a short trench and there 
is every reason to believe that had it been possible to do more work 
there, valuable additional evidence bearing on the prehistory of this 
section of the Plains would have been recovered. 
With reference to time perspective, none of the earthlodges de- 
scribed is old; all were constructed within the past 100 years. The 
hunting lodge is even more recent, although it is apparently the end 
of a line of structures which there is some reason to believe may reach 
well into the past. At present it is impossible to suggest dates for 
the rock cairns and the circular stone outlines known as tipi rings. 
It may be pointed out, however, that finds of trade material are 
seldom reported from them, suggesting that the majority date before 
1800. Much more work on the problem of the tipi rings and the 
rock cairns is needed. Little is known at present regarding the limits 
of their distribution. Few such sites have been excavated and upon 
even fewer have reports been published. 
There is, at present, insufficient evidence to allow dating of the 
three sites tested. One yielded contact material, but, as at other sites 
of this type where trade material was present, it came from the upper- 
