Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-11-28
REMAINS OF OLD
VILLAGE FOUND
NEAR GLENDIVE
BONE SCRAPERS, KNIVES PRO
JECTILE POINTS, BEADS
ARE DISCOVERED

moved 70 the upper PAasSoA a -"
east to escape the wrath OF other
tribes located in what is now the Man
dan, N D. area.
That this tribe, which settled near
where Glendive now stands, consisted
mainly Of Assinniboine and Crow In
dian ancestry, has been proven with
the discovery that ceramic using
race once dwelt on the banks OF the
Yellowstone river.
Engaged IN archaeological recon-
naissance during the summer OF 1881
Oscar Lewis, then Of Glendive but now
a billings resident, discovered the re-
mains of an ancient village on ranch
owned by Thomas J. Hagan OF Glen
dive.
Lewis. a member Of the Montana
archaeological survey, made prelimi-
nary tests and carried on an tnvestl-
cation far enough to convince himself
the village might reveal facts which
would bring to light many unanswered
questions regarding the tribes which
dwelt on those rolling lowlands CEN
turtles ago.
He reported facts pertaining to the
discovery OF the survey and the late
Melville Sayre, then director, IN
vestieated the site. His surface col
lections indicated facts of a signifi-
cant nature would be revealed WIN
further, work, and he mmeolaCey
asked for and obtained PERMISSION
from the land owner to excaVate.
Begun IN April 1888 100
Operations were begun in April, 1888
and were continued until the follow
ing year. The early part Of the WORK
was supervised by Lewis until he was
transferred by the survey to Picto-
graph caves near Billings to continue
work started. He was relieved by
Wahle Phelan, also member OF the
archaeological survey, with mead
quarters in Missoula.
site of the ancient village, where
doubtlessly life and death, inter-
spersed with love, marriage, labor ana
fine EVERYDAY problems Of human
existence went on much as 1t does To-
dav. lies on high bluff formed ny
the rivers northern bank terrace. Inc
buff about 100 feet in height, de-
caines abruptly to the river level, tnen
gradually falls away several hundred
feet to the present river channel.
small arroyo which then, no doubt,
carried a small intermittent stream
into the river, runs somewhat to the
north of the village This originated
near the southern end OF tne sue on
the west side, to extend norpnWa.u,
then bends sharply eastward 70 Inc
river. thus bounding the village On
two sides while the edge OF the mann
stream terrace defines third sloe.
perhaps this ancient tribe, driven
then by the terrors Of conflict mucn
as the present world, located tnen
village with an eye to the saIeey
formed by the wide streams.
before excavations began, the SITE
was rartlv covered by wild grass COM
mon 10 that part of Montana. There
we're little surface indications OF
human habitation of bygone decades
bevond a few potsherds, broken bones
and stone chips.
Near the northern end Of the site
law a low. flat topped, almost In
discernible circular mound, which ap-
neared to be of artificial construc-
ton.
Worked Rapidly
Members Of the survey carried on
their work rapidly A datum point was
selected at random and an area lalo
off. AS excavations proceeded TINS
area was subdivided into 1O-foot
squares and materials uncovered In
each square were recorded to allow an
exact picture of the discovery Sue 70
90 down In the survey records.
The surface statum, from wnlcn
much of the preliminary materials
came, consisted of sandy humus ana
averaged about a foot in thickness.
TJnderlying this was a substratum
which varied from clay to coarse
gravel.
Most of the area excavated demon
strated indiscriminately scattered
homes and artifacts, somewhat re-
sembling a typical camp site witnout
permanent habitation. However, sew
eraI features came to light which ap-
reared to prove this site was more
than an internationally used camp site
for roaming tribes.
These were the remains Of one
mound previously described, and more
than 20 cache pits.
AS the occupants OF one eartn louge
could have hardly been responsible
for all the bones and artfacts wnacn
came to light with each spadeful OF
earth. it was decided other house SIZES
were probably overlooked IN the gen
erai excavation, or that the remains
of an extensive village site bordering
onto city size may lie in some nearby
area not yet excavated-
16-Feet I'm Diameter
The single house site lay $50 feet
north-northwest Of the datum point.
II was a circular pole and earth lodge
which averaged approximately 16 feet
in diameter. 1t underlaid the usual
sandy humus surface stratum, and It's
floor was excavated to a depth OF i've
inches in the clay silt below.
The house was almost perfectly cir
cular ia construction. and its general
outlines we're defined by a packed.
much blackened floor. Around the
edge were IL post holes averaging four
to five inches in diameter and about
A. lear