INDIANS OF NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS

WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL ARCHAEOLOGIST OF OUR COMPANY MY HUSBAND AND I SURVEYED IN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA BADLANDS. THESE TERRITORIES ARE VERY RUGGED AND FULL OF DEEP CREVICES AND OTHER MAJOR BOX CANYONS. IT IS VERY STEEP AND RUGGED TERRAIN THAT THE EARLY PIONEERS CAME THROUGH TO EXPLORE FOR CALIFORNIA GOLD IN 1850'S.

THE PLAINS PREHISTORIC INDIANS CALLED THE MANDAN INDIANS WERE HUNTERS, FARMERS, AND GATHERERS. THEY ESPECIALLY LIKE TO HUNT BUFFALO, ELK, DEER, ANTELOPES, AND FISH. THEY ALSO COLLECTED SEEDS FOR THEIR SUBSISTENCE. WE FOUND MANY BISON SITES THERE - IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO RECORD THEM ALL. WE WERE ONLY INTERESTED IN SITES WITHIN OUR PROJECT AREAS. THERE WERE FEW ARCHAEOLOGISTS WORKING THERE AT THAT TIME.

THE MANDAN BUILT EARTH LODGES WITH WOODEN POLES TO HOLD SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE AT A TIME FOR THEIR CEREMONIES AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS. THE INDIANS MADE POTTERY FROM CLAY AND THEY DUG UP THE CLAY IN CERTAIN AREAS. OVER 1000 PEOPLE LIVED IN ONE VILLAGE. THE CROPS THEY PLANTED WERE CORN, BEANS, SQUASH, TOBACCO, AND SUNFLOWER.

THEY KEPT WARM BY BUILDING FIRES IN THEIR EARTH HOUSES AND WEARING DEE AND BUFFALO SKINS. THEY WERE SELF SUFFICENT PEOPLE. THERE HAVE BEEN PICTOGRAPHS FOUND IN NORTH DAKOTA, HOWEVER WE DID NOT SEE ANY IN OUR SURVEYS.