232 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bdll. 176 



no documentary evidence (e.g., Old Garrison, Expansion, Ree, and 

 others (see Mattison, 1955)). In those instances, excavation might 

 have afforded information nowliere else available — however, the op- 

 portunity for that MTork is gone. 



Salvage archeology has now been accomplished at the historic site 

 of Fort Stevenson. It is believed that these investigations establish 

 two facts. It seems clear that the physical resources of the site were 

 definitely limited, and supplement the documentary record in only 

 minor ways. The results obtained also suggest that the general sig- 

 nificance of the surviving remains was somewhat meager. However, 

 a comparative study of selected sites of similar provenience would 

 seem to offer prospects of knowledge of wider significance than any 

 further data concerning Fort Stevenson itself. The need for con- 

 tinued work on such subjects is apparent. Little more than a begin- 

 ning has been made on investigations of historic sites of such rela- 

 tively late dates in the West, and while there is no way of predicting 

 the value of such studies, they should be a worthwhile addition to 

 customary historical research. These historical resources are immedi- 

 ately related to modern history in the American West — perhaps even 

 more intimately and directly than those of native Indian affiliation. 

 There is little question of the value or importance of archeological 

 sites, whether historic or prehistoric. Each has a contribution to 

 make to knowledge of man's use of these regions, and each should 

 be investigated as time and opportunity permit. 



APPENDIX 



CARTEIDGES AND BULLETS FROM FORT STEVENSON, 



NORTH DAKOTA 



By Carlyle S. Smith 



The cartridges and bullets from Fort Stevenson fall into two groups 

 on the basis of age: (1) Specimens attributable to the military use 

 of the site from 1867 to 1883, and (2) those dropped on the site by 

 hunters and casual visitors from about the time of its abandonment 

 by the U.S. Army until shortly before its excavation in 1951. Most 

 of the identifications were made on the basis of familiarity with fire- 

 arms and ammunition. Additional facts were obtained from ammu- 

 nition catalogs and from Logan's excellent pictorial digest.^ 



This study serves as an experimental check on the dating of sites 

 through the use of objects of White origin. It must be recognized, 

 however, that the military have always been subject to sudden changes 

 in equipment with the discard of the obsolescent in the interests of 

 uniformity. Such would not be the case in regard to the use of 

 objects of Wliite origin in an aboriginal or other nonmilitary setting. 



» Logan, Herschel C, Cartridges. Standard Publications, Huntington, W. Va. 1948. 



