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Archaeology in South Dakota

Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village, Mitchell

A tour of the Thomsen Center Archeodome reveals life in a 1,000-year-old village. Excavations at the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village site have uncovered evidence of everything from the food the villagers ate to the tools they used. The Boehnen Museum and Patton Gallery has an extensive exhibit including a model of what the village may have looked like and also a life-size reconstructed lodge.

A team of British fieldworkers from the University of Exeter is on hand July 1-31 to continue excavating and mapping the site within the Archeodome, as well as cleaning artifacts. The dig takes place Monday through Saturday each week and the public is invited to observe and learn more about the excitement of archaeological discovery.

Admission charged. Call 605-996-5473 or visit www.MitchellIndianVillage.org for more information.

Burghduff Bison Kill, northwest South Dakota

The discovery of three chipped stone dart points, called Alberta points, in the northwestern corner of the state led to the uncovering of a 9,000-year-old bison kill site. Two small units have been placed at the site since it was first uncovered. So far, the site has yielded numerous bison bones and appears to have been a bison kill event. Additional excavations will determine if this was a communal event from populations across the northern and western plains or a small band of local inhabitants.

Volunteers are invited to take part in this excavation. Call the Archaeological Research Center at 605- 394-1936 or visit www.sdsmt.edu/wwwsarc. E-mail mike.fosha@state.sd.us for dig dates.