Riv. BAS. Sur. peat 
Pap. No. 27] STAR VILLAGE—METCALF 79 
Many small, shallow holes from 1 to 2 inches in diameter were 
found in the floor. These were often in groups but in no case did 
they form a pattern. Most of them contained bits of decayed wood 
and, in some cases, the butts of small poles or rods, the purpose of 
which is unknown. Conceivably they may represent the position of 
beds, of hangers for meat, clothing, weapons, or tools, or perhaps in 
some cases of partitions erected when horses were stabled within the 
lodge. 
The fireplace, a simple, unlined depression in the floor, measured 
from 80 to 33 inches in diameter at the top. It was 5 inches in depth, 
and the flat bottom was 20 inches across. The concave sides were 
reddened by the action of fire, but at no point did the color change 
exceed a half-inch in thickness. White ash made up less than half 
the contents, the bulk of the fill being of earth. 
The entrance portico extended to the southeast. It was marked by 
one pair of oppositely placed postholes at the front, these being in 
line with a pair in the outer ring of foundation posts of the house. A 
width of 7.5 feet at the doorway is indicated, with an average length of 
about the same. 
No trace was found of a firescreen of the type recorded by Wilson 
for the Hidatsa (1934, p. 386), by Maximilian for the Mandan (1906, 
pp. 271-272), or as found by Hartle during the excavation of the 
Rock Village (82ME15) and the Nightwalkers Butte in the Bull 
Pasture (32ML39) sites. Neither was there any indication that the 
leaners of the entranceway had been set in trenches. No caches were 
present in the floor. 
Little cultural debris came from the site of this structure. It is of 
interest, however, that a greater percentage of the objects found there 
are of pottery or stone than was the case at the other structural re- 
mains excavated at the site. At the same time it should be noted that 
trade objects were present in approximately the same numbers as at 
the other house floors uncovered. The notes give little indication as 
to whether the objects of native origin came from the fill or from the 
floor level. I suspect that the sherds and stone objects found here 
were from the fill and probably were present in the earth used to cover 
the roof and sides of the structure and represent an earlier use of the 
site by some group or groups who preceded the Arikara. Fifty-three 
fragments of animal bones were recovered, few of which were identifi- 
able. A single kernel of charred corn was found. Probably the most 
interesting trade object from the entire site was found there—a small 
dagger which had been thrust down into one of the central postholes. 
A boulder 12 to 18 inches in diameter was in the fill about 6 feet south- 
west of the fireplace. This seems to have been above the floor level and 
showed no sign of having served as an anvil. 
