Dr. Dennis Toom
Anthropological Research
University of North Dakota

Thomas Theissen
Midwest Archeological Center
National Park Service

Abstract:  The Elbee archeological site is a contributing element of the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site Archeological District.  The primary component at the site represents the remains of a prehistoric village occupied sometime during the period A.D. 1550 to 1600, though several other cultural occupations are less well represented, including a buried pre-ceramic, pre-Plains Village component believed to date to about 1000 B.C.  The major Plains Village component appears to represent a site-unit intrusion of people from further south along the Missouri River in South Dakota , a unique archeological expression in the Knife Region.  On-going erosion by the Knife River channel is diminishing the extent of the site and threatens to damage a nearby county road in the foreseeable future.  Using a magnetometer in 2002, NPS archeologists will conduct a magnetic survey of the portion of the sire that is threatened.  The resulting map of the magnetic field over the site will provide clues to the presence of subsurface cultural features such as storage pits, hearths, and earthlodge architecture.  NPS and University of North Dakota archeologists will use this information to plan a test excavation project at the site.  In 2003, archeologists from the University of North Dakota will excavate test pits to investigate anomalies apparent on the map and determine the presence or absence of evidence for 1) the main village component, 2) intact cultural features, and 3) the buried, pre-Plains Village cultural horizon.  The results of the investigation will be used to plan physical stabilization measures to preserve the remaining portion of the site.

Funding Agency:
National Park Service
Modification #: H6000A100AA ($26,000); 0001 ($5,977), 0002 (No cost)

$31,977

End Date:  November 30, 2004

Final abstract phase 1, phase 2