Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-12-04
REMNANTS OF OLD
VILLAGE FOUND
NEAR GLENDVE

OF the mouse floor was an irregular de-
preston averaging about two feet In
diameter and four inches deep, eyt-
IDENTIFY fire pit.
Just west of the pit was q fairly
large pile OF ashes, apparently raked
from the fire.
In north and south line at equal
distances from the center of the house
and about four feet apart were two
additional post holes. also about five
inches in diameter and Is inches
deep
All these post holes contained bison
bones, evidently tamped into the holes
to steady the posts.
About two feet outside of the house
and just south OF the entrance Law a
cache pit. 1t was approximately one
ana one-half feet deep and about the
same width with q rounded bottom
and smooth mud-plastered interior.
IL contained earth mixed with white
ashes and charcoal.
In addition to the house site. a
mound was discovered about TOO feet
north OF the datum point. 1t occupied
rather level area and was definitely
dlscernible before excavations began.
HeiicCuy SifCuIaf
1t was AZ feet in diameter and was
so perfectly circular that it might
have been laid out by some mechanical
means, perhaps by drawing circle
with stick and cord.
The mound was level on ton with
the edges of the top and bottom
clearly defined.
In the mound was a large supply of
human bones, particularly skull frag-
ments. Included in the collection were
also few fragments Of pottery, ami
NAL bones and other artifacts identi-
cal with those discovered elsewhere at
the site.
There were no postholes or other
construction features.
The 20 cache pits demonstrated two
variations. Finger marks could still be
seen in the smooth clay plastered
walls. Some of these walls were six
feet in depth and five feet in diameter.
Occasionally they penetrated sand
stratum below the clay silt.
Some were partly filled with humus
and clay silt, and contained numerous
artifactS, ash deposits, charcoal and
animal bones
Continued excavations unearthed
pottery of designs which formed an
almost complete mental picture of this
tribes past. its reason for deserving
the Dakota plains, and its method of
abode after settling near where the
city of Glendive was to spring CEN
turtles later.
Found Many Articles
Bone scrapers. knives, projectile
points, both large and small, polished
stone war hammer heads, mauIs.
grinding stones and pits, shaft
polishers. rubbing stohes, dishes, pipes.
beads and pendants. stone anvils, sew
ing awl, bone hooks for Strengthening
spear and arrow shafts. projectiles
manufactured from antler points,
bison bone digging tools, and even q
pair of snow goggles constructed from
bone with a small slit cut through
which the wearer evidently peered
against the glare Of the sun, all came
to light as the excavators toiled.
Thus the men who delve into the
past have scored another success, and
via archaeological channels which en-
brace countless hours of toll and study
have cast light on the lives and habits
of one Of Americas early-day races.
All work on the Glendive project
was carried on by the works projects
administration, and the artifacts re-
vealed were brought to Eastern Mon
tana Normal school at Billings for fur
ther study, tracing and photograph
ing.
DR.. Harry Holbert Teurney-High
then of the Montana State univer-
sity faculty, now in the armed forces,
compiled the reams of manuscripts
and made possible the publication of
book-form manual describing in de-
tail the work, what it revealed, and an
analysis of the findings-their con-
nection with the past.
Considerable support was given to
the work by Dr. L. B. McMullen, presi-
dent of the normal school at Billings,
and for several years secretary and
editor of the Proceedings of the In
dian Academy of Science. For years,
DR.. McMullen has felt scientific work,
for which Montana furnished richly
laden field of possibilities, should be
encouraged and carried in the state.
Slowly but surely his hopes are being
realized, and although such work will
likely suffer from the war, its i'm
portance has been brought to men of
vision so forcibly that there is little
doubt it will be resumed with in
creased vigor once the world struggle
has ended.