Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-03
PRIMITIVE MAN
ONCE LIVED In
The DAK0TAS
Scientists Baffled by Dako-
ta's Find After Careful
Research
New Chapters in History of
the Content May Come
From Relics.

vermillion. 8. D., Nov.e s.-ThAt
primitive mar lived in the upper
Missouri valley centuries, perhaps
thousands of years. earlier than mad
been supposed, is the conclusion
reached by w. H. Over and DR.. Freed
man Ward Of the University Of South
Dakota. who have just presented the
results of their explorations IN the
ancient village sites on the Missouri
river before a meeting of archeolo-
gists here.
DIR. Ward, who is state K%eologtst,
last summer made field Investigations
in the Missouri valley region from
Mobridge, 8. D.. to Pierre, the state
capital. The field work was under-
taken as part of the geological work
done by the university and the state
geological department. 1t was while
that DR.. Ward and Mr.. Over found
traces Of what are supposed to have
been the earliest inhabitants Of the
Dakotas.
= 1--WE found stone and bone imple-
ments. fragments Of pottery, broken
buffalo bones. ashes and hearth
stones in q soil layer two to eight feet
IN LHC SuEldCe dlOHk Tie BANKS OIL
the Missouri between Mobridge and
Pierre" said DR.. Ward.
Our Early Man Not Pro-Glacial.
The burtal Of these relics is clear
ly associated with some of the larger
geologic phenomena of the Missouri
valley. The sequence Of events in the
geologic history of this part Of South
Dakota ia as follows:
"First-The main valley Of the
Missouri river cut in the bed rock
which is shale.
"Second-Partial filling Of the val
ley by alluvium.
"Third-1nhabitation by man.
"Fourth-Burial of human records
by more alluvium.
"Fifth-Cutting by the river and
exposure OF the relics.
THE problem is to locate. in time,
the third Of this cycle of events.
Biologists agree that the cutting Of
the valley Of the Missouri and the
subsequent filing. items noted as
first and second in the cycle of
events. occurred when the glacier was
at its extent. OF the five advances OF
the continental ice-sheet the Wiscon-
sin was the last and it was during this
time that the Missouri river was born.
Since the inhabitation by man follows
Wisconsin time. this proves that our
early man was not pre-glacial.
Furthermore the bone remains found
are chiefly buffalo bones. There were
no bones Of the mastodon. sabre
toothed tiger or other typical Pleisto-
of culture indicated by the pottery,
tools and other remains does not sug-
gest an extremely primitive people.
Lived 10000 Years Ago.
[. These men, then. lived in the val
ley of the Missouri in post-glacial
times. The time h a has elapsed
since the beginning of the withdrawal
Of the ice and today is estimated to
be from 10000 to so, 900 years. This
limit of age OF these human remains.
The valley filling, the econ OF
the events in our cycle, took place
after the ice had Withdrawn some
what and streams from the melting
glaciers were heavily charged with
debris. This must have occupied sew
eral thousand years.
THE cutting by the river. the fifth
event. "a best be correlated with the
general elevation which followed the
complete withdrawal Of the glacier.
The inhabitation by man and deposit
ton of more alluvium. vents third
and fourth, must have taken place
somewhere between these two x
tremes.
1A4C vi f1u1ldAl k1hUACRAOus
"The deposition Of more Alluviun1.
the fourth event, becomes a critical
point in fixing the time Of human
h%abitation. This deposition Of alluv-
ium means n Of two things: First,
the rivers water was given an add"
tional lead because Of increased eros
ion in the tributary region or head
waters: Second, the deposition may
have been caused by the action OF
the wind. The wind would be able
to gather a greater quantity Of dust
IL the protecting Of vegetation
were lacking. The elimination Cf
this cover would be brought about by
a change Of the climate to arid con-
ditions. In other words this " al
luvium on top of the evidences OF
human habitation may have bean de-
posted because OF q climatic change.
either to a greater or less rainfall.
Problem Not Settled.
IF the climate Interpretation IL
correct, it is y probable that h
change vas aridity. More rain favors
the increase and spread Of man while
less rain favors determination or mi
grafton Of a race and this is what
historic records 60. in the United
States there has been no pronounced
climatic change.
white men never knew this region
when it was different in form from ite
condition today. 10 do the climatic
records in the older eastern sections
of, the United States indicate anything
different from our present type Of
climate in the United States in histor-
ic times. Therefore it is reasonable
to assume that the deposition Of this
alluvium took place far earlier than
our historic records reach. that is in
prehistoric times. Man inhabited the
region before this climatic change
took place. and 30 the time that has
elapsed since his .occupsncS must be
measured in centuries. POSSIBLY in
thousands OF years.
This ie the first evidence of pre-
historic man found in South Dakota.
While the evidence 10 far obtained
seems to Justify the Interpretation
given. yet the problem is by no .
settled and the Anal word VIII not be
spoken till some years have elapsed
and other evidence is gathered"
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