THE ARCHEOLOGY OF A SMALL TRADING POST 

 (KIPP'S POST, 32MN1) IN THE GARRISON 

 RESERVOIR, NORTH DAKOTA^ 



By Alan R. Woolworth and W. Raymond Wood 



INTRODUCTION 



The purpose of this study is to describe the archeological remains 

 recovered from the excavation of 32MN1, the site of a Columbia 

 Fur Company trading post — Kipp's Post — which was apparently 

 built at the mouth of the Wliite Earth River in the fall and winter 

 of 1826-27. Kipp's Post was built before the construction of Fort 

 Clark in 1831, and is the predecessor of the famed Fort Union, built 

 by the American Fur Company near the mouth of the Yellowstone 

 River in 1828. Tliis site was only briefly noted in contemporary 

 literature, and details of its physical appearance and construction 

 were not previously known. The available historical facts are pre- 

 sented in this study, and should provide a background for an under- 

 standing of portions of the fur-trading activities of the Upper 

 Missouri River in the late 1820's. 



The site is described, archeological fieldwork is summarized, 

 structures are described, and an analysis of the artifacts recovered is 

 presented. The artifacts from the site are especially important, since 

 they relate to an early period of the fur trade in this area and to a 

 time span of only about 5 years. These have therefore been described 

 in considerable detail, and catalog numbers are cited for specific ref- 

 erence. Of special interest are the beads, glazed earthenware, but- 

 tons, and clay pipes. A large sample of shale and catlinite pipes 

 was also found. 



Also of considerable interest are the two traditions of artifacts 

 found within the trading post. The majority of the artifacts are 

 White object materials as one would expect; nevertheless, about 45 

 specimens were found that are described as "Objects of native manu- 

 facture." The latter are arrowpoints, mauls, whetstones, and a 

 considerable variety of hide-dressing tools. 



» Original report submitted to the Region Two office of the National Park Service In 

 March 1957 and accepted In May 1957 by the Regional Director as completing the agree- 

 ment between the National Park Service and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. 

 Some revision was made in text In November 1958. 



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