Table Of Content.
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TheArcheologyofBeaver..
The Archeology of Beaver Creek Shelter (39CU779):
„.,. ClemsonUniversity A Preliminary Statement
OOG^EKre
IIUHlifi'lTli PUBLIC
3 1604 016 837 108 DEP03 lTEM
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by JAN 9
Lynn Marie Alex
CLEMSON
3fH
-SUCATION
SELECTIONS from the DIVISION OF CULTURAL RESOURCES
No. 3 Rocky Mountain Region
1991
National Park Service
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REPORT DOCUMENTATION 1. REPORT MO. J. RNacPlSpianfDa-A3cc2aaaAlon No.
PAGE
5. RaportOata
4. TlTtthaeandArSucbthreHaology of the Beaver Creek Shelter (39CU779) 1991
A Preliminary Statement
8. PerformingOrganizationRapt. No.
7. Authorfr)
Lynn Marie Alex
la Projact/Taak/WoriiUnitNo
irp»rformln«OrganizationNamaandAddrasa
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 11. Contract(C)orGrant(G)No.
Rapid City, South Dakota
<c> PX-1242-9-1123
(G)
12. SponsoringOrganizationNanvaand 15. TypaofRaport&PariodCovarad
Contractural FY 1989
National Park Service
Final Report
P.O. Box 25287
Denver, CO 80225
IS. SupplamantaryNote*
1ft. AbstractT(Lhimeit:B2e00awvoerdr*)Creek Shelter (39CU779) is a north-facing rock shelter xn Wxnd Cave
National Park. Excavations were conducted by the South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology in 1985 and, again by that institution and the South Dakota Archaeological
Research Center in 1985 and 1987. This work penetrated 4.77 m of vertical rock shelter
The excavations defined 22 stratigraphic horizons, many of whxch contaxn
archeological materials, and produced a sequence of 12 radiocarbon dates covering most
odfatetsheiHnodlioccaetnee.theThsehelatrecrheohalsogitchaelpostpeenctimieanls,ofthperovsitdriantgifiicnaftoiromnast,ionandonthteheratdrxaoncsaitriboonn
from the Early to the Middle Archaic Periods, and of elucidating the interrelationship
between climatic trends and human prehistory throughout the Holocene.
17. DocumentAnatysia a. Descriptors
Holocene, Paleo-environmental, Archaic, soils
b. Identifiers/OpenEndedTerms
e. COSATI Field/Group
lg. AAvavilaabiillitaybSltaetemfenrtom the National Technical Informatior 19. SacuunrictylCalsaassi(fThii»eRdaport) 21. No.ofPagaa
Service, Operations Division, 5285 Port Royal 20. SacurityCtaaa(ThisPaga)
Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161 unclassified
(S*eANSI-Z39.1S) $# Instructionson Ravaraa O(PFoTrImOaNrtAyLNFTOISR-M352)72(4-77)
DapartmantofCommtrct
The Archeology of the Beaver Creek Shelter (39CU779),
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
A Preliminary Statement
by
Lynn Marie Alex
with contributions by
Mark D. Fahrenbach
Submitted in partial fulfillment of Contract PX-1242-9-1123
to
National Park Service
P.O. Box 25287
Denver, Colorado 80225
Submitted by
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City
June 1991
ThisvolumeisdedicatedtoRobertA.Alex.
FOREWORD
When Dr. James Martin discovered step towardsthat obligation, I am pleased to
archeological materials in hispaleontological present thisvolume in our occasional series
excavations in Wind Cave National Park, he ofpublications on the Rocky Mountain
contacted South Dakota StateArcheologist Region'spast. While thework discussed is
RobertAlex. Little did he know that their limited in naturebecause ofthe small
subsequent,joint test excavationswould excavation, the significance and uniqueness of
reveal at least 8,000years ofcontinuous thecontinuousenvironmental and cultural
human occupation and reflect a majorpart of recordwarrants dissemination ofthe results.
the Holocene environmental record. The Thisreportwasprepared,with support
archeological materials, stratification, and and assistance from the South Dakota School
radiocarbon dates indicate that the site has ofMines andTechnology, by archeologist
the potential ofprovidingsignificant Lynn MarieAlex after the tragic death ofher
information on the transition from the Early husband. It isbeingprinted by the National
to MiddleArchaicperiods, particularly in the Park Service in the memoryofDr. RobertA.
environmental arena. This is a record Alex.
presently unknown from elsewhere in the
Black Hills.
Aspart ofthe National Park Service
mission to protect and interpret its resources, Lorraine Mintzmyer
it is important to makevaluable, new Regional Director
scientific information readily available. As a Rocky Mountain Region
Mission: As the Nations'sprincipalconservation agency, the Department ofthe Interior has
responsibilityfor most ofour nationally-owned publiclands and natural and cultural resources.
This includes fosteringwise use ofour land andwaterresources, protectingourfish andwildlife,
preservingthe environmental and culturalvaluesofornationalparks and historicalplaces, and
providingforthe enjoyment oflifethrough outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our
energy and mineralresources andworks to assure that theirdevelopment is in thebest interests
ofall our people. The Department alsopromotesthegoals oftheTakePride inAmerica
campaign by encouragingstewardship andcitizen responsibilityforthepubliclandsand
promotingcitizen participation in theircare. TheDepartment also has a major responsibilityfor
American Indian reservation communities and forpeoplewho live in Island Territories under
U.S. Administration. NPS-D-32A.
in
BeaverCreekShelter, WindCaveNationalPark, 1985.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report was undertaken as an Creek research, James Martin ofthe SDSMT,
attempt to synthesize twoyears of and other colleagues on the projectwere
archeological research conducted at the invaluable in the preparation ofthis
Beaver Creek Shelter by Robert A. Alex, manuscript. Martin, JaneAbbott ofthe
following his death on April 21, 1988. The South Dakota Archeological Research Center
initial fieldwork was funded by the National (SDARC), and Mark Fahrenbach and
Park Service (NPS) and a faculty research Rachel Benton ofthe SDSMT, offered
grant through the South Dakota School of assistance in the interpretation ofsite
Mines and Technology (SDSMT). Students data, original field records and
enrolled in classes in field paleontology and paleontological and geological information.
archeology sponsored by the Black Hills This report relies extensively on thework of
Natural Sciences Field Station and volunteers these individuals for the data presented on
from the Northern Hills Chapter, South site stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental
Dakota Archeological Society assisted in reconstruction. Mark Fahrenbach was also
site excavation in 1986 and 1987. hired to assist in the analysis ofsite
The NPS, upon the advice of debitage and the identification oflithic
Adrienne Anderson, Regional Archeologist, raw materials. Rogerwilliams ofthe SDARC
Rocky Mountain Region, and Bill Swift, was employed to illustrate the patterned
ChiefNaturalist, Wind Cave National Park, artifacts.
offered to provide funding for the completion The authorwishes to thank all these
ofthis report. Additional Support was individuals aswell as the NPS, Wind Cave
forthcoming through the generosity ofthe National Park, the SDSMTand the SDARC
Black Hills Parks and ForestsAssociation. for their support ofthe Beaver Creek
James Haug, the current State Archeologist research.
for South Dakota, and Bill Green, Iowa State Although the original archeo'ogical
Archeologist, kindly extended use ofthe research at the Beaver Creek Shelterwas
facilities at their respective offices for planned and executed by the co-principal
the preparation ofthe report. Steve Lensink investigator, RobertAlex, the author takes
ofthe Office ofthe State Archeologist, full responsibility for the manuscript
Iowa City, offered constructive insight in presented here and hopes that it in noway
the interpretation ofarcheological data detracts from norcontradicts hisvery capable
and volunteered many hours ofcomputer endeavors. While this synthesis has at times
assistance. been a lesson in frustration it has also been a
The principal investigator ofthe Beaver labor oflove and respect.
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation
http://www.archive.org/details/archeologyofbeavOOalex
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
iii
Acknowledgements V
Figures viii
Tables ix
Preface xii
Introduction 1
Site Location 1
HistoryofResearch 3
1985 Excavations 3
1986 Excavations 8
1987 Excavations 11
Stratigraphy 13
Features 16
Artifacts 22
Methodology 22
Patterned Artifacts 37
Modified Flakes 42
Debitage 43
Shatter 46
Discussion 46
Summary and Conclusions 48
References Cited 54
Appendices 60
1. Artifacts
2. Lithic Material from 39CU779 and Its Source, by Mark D. Fahrenbach
vu
FIGURES
Figure Page
1. Location ofthe Beaver Creek Shelter in Wind Cave National Park 2
2. Map ofBeaver Creek Shelter showingarea excavated in 1985, 1986, and 1987 4
3. Stratigraphic section ofBeaver Creek localityWind Cave National Park,
Custer Country, South Dakota 5
4. Profiles ofthe south and eastwalls ofthe excavation 6
5. Profiles ofthe south andwestwalls ofthe excavation 7
6. Chipped stone artifacts recovered from the excavations 10
7. Antler artifact from the Bear Creek Shelter 11
8. Planview offeatures 17
9. Angle ofemployable unites (EUs) on modified flakes 44
Vlll
