[Drawing: "pottery vessel from Prairie Island"]

Department of Anthropology
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455

No. 14
Fall, 1969
Jan E. Streiff, Editor
[8 pages, no figures]

Bill Before Congress

WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT:

Currently the Senate has before it a bill to amend earlier Acts which provide for the preservation of prehistoric and historic sites in the United States. The amendment further guarantees protection and provides some funds for the excavation of sites. The Bill is reproduced below in its entirety.

91st Congress
1st Session

To amend the Act of June 27, 1960 (74 Stat. 220), relating to the preservation of historical and archaeological data.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the preservation of historical and archaeological data (including relics and specimens) which might otherwise be lost as the result of the construction of a dam", approved June 27, 1960 (74 Stat. 220), is amended to read as follows:

"That it is the purpose of this Act to further the policy set forth in the Act entitle 'An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes',

approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461-467), and the Act entitled "An Act to establish a program for the preservation of additional historic properties throughout this Nation, and for other purposed', approved October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 915), by specifically providing for the preservation of scientific, prehistorical, historical, and archaeological data (including relics and specimens) which might be adversely affected as the result of (1) flooding, the building of access roads, the erection of workmen's communities, and the relocation of railroad and highways, and other alterations of the terrain caused by the construction of a dam by any agency of the United States, or by any private person or corporation holding a license issued by any such agency; or (2) any alteration of the terrain caused as a result of any Federal, federally assisted, or federally licensed activity or program.

"Sec. 2. Before any agency of the United States shall undertake the construction of a dam, or issue a license to any private individual or corporation for the construction of a dam, it shall give written notice to the Secretary of the Interior setting forth the site of the proposed dam and the approximate area to be flooded and otherwise changed if such construction is undertaken: Provided, That with respect to any floodwater retarding dam which provides less than five thousand acre-feet of detention capacity and with respect to any other type of dam which creates a reservoir of less than forty surface acres the provisions of this section shall apply only when the constructing agency, in its preliminary surveys, finds, or is presented with evidence that scientific, prehistorical, historical, or archaeological materials exist or may be present in the proposed reservoir area.

"Sec. 3. (a) Whenever any Federal agency becomes aware that its operations in connection with any Federal, federally assisted, or federally licensed activity or program affects or amy affect adversely scientific, prehistorical, historical, or archaeological data, such agency shall notify the Secretary of the Interior, in writing, of that fact. The Secretary, upon notification by any such agency or by any other Federal or State agency or responsible private organization or individual that scientific, prehistorical, historical, or archaeological data is or may be adversely affected by any such Federal, federally assisted, or federally licenses activity or program, shall, if he determines that such data is or may be adversely affected, notify in writing the instigating agency. Following such notification, the Secretary shall immediately conduct a survey or other investigation of the areas which are or may be affected and recover and preserve such data (including its analysis and publication) which, in his opinion, should be recovered and preserved in the public interest. Upon receipt of such notification from the Secretary, the instigating agency is authorized to transfer to the Secretary such funds as may be necessary, in an amount not to exceed one-tenth of 1 per centum of the total amount appropriated in connection with such activity or program, to enable the Secretary to conduct such survey or other investigation and to recover and preserve such data.

"(b) The Secretary shall keep the instigating agency notified at all times of the progress of any survey or other investigation made under this Act, or of any work undertaken as a result of such survey, in order that there will be as little disruption or delay as possible in the carrying out of the functions of such agency.

"(c) A survey or other investigation similar to that provided for by subsection (a) of this section and the work required to be performed as a result thereof shall so far as practicable also e undertaken in connection with any dam, activity, or program which has been heretofore authorized by any agency of the United States, by any private person or corporation holding a license issued by any such agency, or by Federal law.

"(d) The Secretary shall consult with any interested Federal and State agencies, education and scientific organizations, and private institutions and qualified

individuals, with a view to determining the ownership of and the most appropriate repository for any relics and specimens recovered as a result of any work performed as provided for in this section.

"Sec. 4. In the administration of the Act, the Secretary may

"(1) accept and utilize funds transferred to him by any Federal agency pursuant to this Act;

"(2) enter into contracts or make cooperative agreements with any Federal or State agency, any educational or scientific organization, or any institution, corporation, association, or qualified individual;

"(3) obtain the services of experts and consultants or organizations thereof in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; and

"(4) accept and utilize funds made available for salvage archaeological purposes by any private person or corporation.

This is Senate Bill #2893. Please, write your Congressman asking for the passage of this important bill!

The field season opened this year at the Bartron site (GD-2), located on the southern end of the Prairie Island near Red Wing, Minnesota. The site, situated on land owned by Northern States Power Company and near their Nuclear Power Plant now under construction, had been tested in 1948 and again in 1968. This year, under the direction of Professor Elden Johnson, with a crew of twenty University students, a more extensive program was conducted. Test trenches were laid out across the site to determine its extent. The excavation of a large central portion of the suspected village revealed a sizable house floor and an extensive refuse area. The analysis of this Oneota site is now under way at the University.

In addition to the village site excavation, three nearby mounds, also on NSP property, were tested by Jan Streiff. Although all were platted in the Winchell report of 1906, none had skeletal material, and only one showed evidence of disturbed soil.

Sponsored by the Minnesota Resources Commission, work on the Cooper Site (ML-9) was completed this year by Professor Johnson. The site, in the Mille Lacs-Kathio State Park near Onamia, Minnesota, has been under excavation for the past four seasons.

Two burial mounds adjacent to the Cooper Site were also excavated by Streiff. Unlike the mound in the same group with was excavated in 1967 by Gordon Lothson, and which proved to be contemporary with the village site, these mounds are older.

Intensive archaeological excavations were conducted during July and August on the Maplewood site 21-OT-36 in Maplewood State Park in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. During these investigations Charles R. Watrall acted as site director with a field crew of students from the University of Minnesota.

The Maplewood Site is located on a point of land that extends into south Lake Lida. The archaeological resources of this site had been previously tested by University of Minnesota survey teams during the summers of 1967 and 1968. These investigations indicated that further research at the site would be feasible.

The main purposes of the investigations conducted this summer were to obtain a good pottery sample and samples of other artifacts to establish the chronological placement and cultural affiliations of the site. It was also hoped that evidence of structures, particularly house patterns, could be found. Collection of data on the diet and subsistence patterns of the site was another major focus of the investigation. Other sites in the area were also tested to provide comparative materials from which some regional statements concerning prehistoric chronology and settlement patterns in the area could be made.

The excavations at the Maplewood Site were fairly successful in that a large ceramic sample and a large sample of other artifacts were excavated. Several pits with cultural refuse were also found as were numerous postholes. Unfortunately these postholes did not appear to form any structural pattern. An analysis of the bone material excavated should provide much information on the subsistence pattern of the site.

Some other sites in the area were also tested particularly along the Pelican River. While larger samples of cultural materials from these sites would have been desirable, enough materials were collected to make some statements concerning regional chronology and settlement patterns.

Although intensive analysis of the excavated material has only begun, it appears that the Maplewood Site represents a late prehistoric-protohistoric settlement.

Many persons helped during the excavations but especially notable in this respect was Park Manager Elroy Backstrom whose time, efforts, and help on many occasions were more than gratefully appreciated.

The ACE, planning a public camp ground on the south end of Gull Lake, Cass County, discovered the land to be used held fourteen mounds. Under the direction of Alan Kutchera, University of Wisconsin, and financed by the Corps of Engineers, the group of undisturbed linear and conical mounds was excavated this summer. Preliminary analysis suggests these mounds to be of the Middle Woodland Period.

Highway Salvage

Until the spring of 1968, the task of investigating and researching archaeological materials in danger of destruction from highway construction activities was allotted to the Minnesota Historical Society and the Anthropology Department of the

University of Minnesota. In the past, due to poor communication, lack of funds or personnel, archaeological materials were occasionally destroyed without proper investigation. Often proper investigations were only undertaken when highway construction activities were imminent. Such conditions prevented adequate research and recovery of much valuable archaeological material. Instances that might be cited in this regard would include much [sic] notable archaeological sites as those destroyed around the peripheries of Lake Mille Lacs, numerous sites along the Mississippi River including the LeMoille [sic] rock shelter, and the Minnesota Man site itself in Otter Tail County. While it is true that the Minnesota Man site may never have been found if highway construction activities had not taken place, it is also true that more rapid investigation and better communications at the time of the initial discovery would have vastly increased the data that is now available for interpretation of the site.

It had been the hope of professional archaeologists that a system of continuing archaeological reconnaissance and investigation could be established which would review proposed highway construction routes.

A program of this type was established in MInnesota in the spring of 1968 and actual field operations were begun in June 1968. An agreement was formed between the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota State Highway Department to establish an archaeological reconnaissance program. The program itself is supported by state and federal highway funds and personnel is hired through the State Historical Society. Overall direction of the program is carried out by Alan Woolworth while the planning and direction of the actual field operations is conducted by the present author and two able archaeological field assistants, John Kania and Kent Scheer. These men, along with Clement Kachelmeyer [sic], who acted as liaison between the Historical Society and the Highway Department, are responsible for much of the initial success of the Archaeological Reconnaissance Program.

The task of the reconnaissance program was to review and make recommendations on three kinds of materials along proposed state and federal highway construction routes. These are historic sites, prehistoric sites, and paleontology materials. It was the hope of the program that these archaeological and paleontological materials could be located and investigated an the recommendations could be made concerning them several years in advance of actual construction activities. While it was clearly anticipated that not all archaeological materials could be noted at the time of the reconnaissance survey, it was felt that most major archaeological materials could be investigated by the reconnaissance method. Recommendations could then be made concerning the archaeological materials without fear of imminent destruction by construction activities.

The methodology of the Archaeological Reconnaissance Program investigated several sources of information regarding possible archaeological materials along construction routes. The included: 1. Review of the Archaeological Site Survey Files of the University of Minnesota Anthropology Department to note if any known sites or possible concentration of sites were to be found along a proposed construction route; 2. The use of topographic maps to note possible promising habitation areas; 3. Interviewing and questioning of local persons living along each particular construction right of way - where possible each land owner along a construction route was interviewed; 4. Interviewing of local collectors who might have information concerning archaeological materials within their own area; 5. Actual on-the-ground field investigation attempting to locate unnatural surface features or archaeological materials exposed on the surface; and 6. The use of the test trench method where small,

one meter square pits are dug to determine possible subsurface features and/or artifactual materials.

The results of the program may be summarized as follows. Starting from a point of ongoing construction, the archaeological reconnaissance survey is presently about two years in advance of construction. During the summer of 1968 about 350 miles of proposed construction areas were reviewed. Most of these areas were without any significant archaeological materials, but during the survey at least twelve sites or areas of archaeological importance were noted, investigated and recommendations made. These sites included prehistoric mounds, village areas, and several paleontology sites.

A final report detailing the activities, justification, methodology, and the specific details on the areas reviewed and the archaeological materials found during 1968 was submitted to the State Highway Department in January of this year. This report is to be published by the Minnesota Historical Society and will be available in the near future.

Savanna River Portage

During the month of May, 1969, an archaeological reconnaissance survey was conducted in Savanna River Portage State Park in Aitkin County, Minnesota. This work was conducted through the Minnesota Historical Society and was supported by funds from the Minnesota Park Department. Field operations for the project were under the direction of Charles R. Watrall who was assisted during the survey by Mr. Herbert Larson.

The primary purpose of the survey was to investigate, test and make recommendations on any possible archaeological resources, either prehistoric or historic with the part area.

Results of the investigation proved to be highly successful in that a sequence of archaeological materials was found which evidences the occupation of the park area from about 7,000 B.C. to present. Such a sequence of materials is unique within the confines of a single park and as such become highly important to the understanding of how different cultural systems exploited the ecology and resource potential of a relatively restricted area over a very long period of time.

Investigation showed that several surface finds had been made in the area of what are probably late Paleo Indian or Early Archaic projectile points. A surface find of a single copper spear of "Old Copper" Archaic form was also noted.

A prehistoric-protohistoric village site on Battle Island was also tested. This island has recently be acquired by Savanna River Portage State Park. Previous activity by amateur collectors has destroyed much of the village site on the island and it is hoped that since it is no within Savanna River Portage State Park boundaries this kind of activity will cease.

Investigations were also carried out on several sites of historic materials. These sites included work focused on determining the route of the original Savanna River Portage Trail. Part of a log causeway in a tamarack swamp which had been used by the original fur traders was found and investigated. The site of a fur post building at the eastern end of the trail was archaeologically tested confirming the building location. Trade goods were excavated during these tests.

Other historic materials and sites investigated included a small Chippewa village (the Grasshopper Site) dating from the late 1800's until about 1913. The location of a maple sugar camp close to this village was also found.

Investigation and mapping procedures were also carried out on a large logging camp within the park and on some early settler farmsteads.

Many local persons were helpful during the investigation but special thanks are due to Herbert Larson, Park Manager Robert Barry, and Lloyd Shofner.

Charles R. Watrall, Project Archaeologist
Highway Archaeological Reconnaissance Program

1969 Summer Reconnaissance

One of the goals set for the 1969 summer project was to survey the construction proposed for 1970. This allows at least a year between the survey and the beginning of construction, sufficient time for the excavation of sites with a minimum disruption of construction schedules. No definite sites were found although several people reported mounds in woodlots overgrown with summer vegetation. These were surveyed, noted, and will be resurveyed before construction.

Nick Franke

During the 1969 field season, the Minnesota Historical Society was active in the archaeological recovery of Minnesota's past. Dealing primarily with historic sites, several prehistoric sites were also located.

Leland R. Cooper continued the archaeological investigation and restoration of the Thomas Connor's Post (1804-05), located near Pine City, Minnesota.

Continued excavation and restoration on Fort Snelling was done by Loren Johnson.

Alan R. Woolworth supervised the Highway Salvage Program and directed further archaeological testing at the site of the Grand Mound National Monument.

David W. Nystuen completed the excavation of the Upper Sioux Agency (1854-62), located near Granite Falls, Minnesota. He also carried out investigations on historic sites in Fillmore, Redwood, and Blue Earth counties. During the course of the summer, prehistoric sites were investigated, by him, in Carlton, Redwood, and Rock counties.

We would like to welcome to Minnesota archaeology Professor Richard Lane of St. Cloud State College and Professor Alan Brew of Bemidji State College. Professor Lane excavated a portion of a large burial mound and village complex in the northern part of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge this past summer and will continue his work there during the 1970 field season. Professor Brew is now making plans to begin an archaeological program in the Bemidji area next year.

The MHS has recently issued a number of publications which we believe will be of interest to you. They are listed below, along with the prices. You may obtain any and all of these by writing to Publications, MHS, 1500 Mississippi Street, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101.

Burial Mounds of Central Minnesota, by Lloyd A. Wilford, Elden Johnson, and Joan Vicinus. $3.25.

The Archaeology of Petaga Point, by Peter Bleed. $2.00.

Prehistoric People of Minnesota, by Elden Johnson. $1.50.

The Joseph R. Brown House, by Carla Lindeman and David Nystuen. $1.50.

The Excavation of Fort Renville, by David Nystuen and Carla Lindeman. $2.00.

Roster of Excavated Prehistoric Sites in Minnesota, by Carla Norquist. $1.75.

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.