List of archaeological sites in South Dakota explained

According to the South Dakota State Historical Society's Archaeological Research Center, over 26,000 archaeological sites have been recorded in the U.S. state of South Dakota.[1]

This list is broken down by county and encompasses sites across all of what is now South Dakota. Only notable sites are listed. Each table consists of the site's common name; the nearest locality; if given, its Smithsonian trinomial (SITS) and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) reference number; associated period or culture; and any further notes, including where a property is listed on the NRHP as a National Historic Landmark, or part of a Multiple Property Submission (MPS), Multiple Resource Area (MRA), or Thematic Resource (TR).

Beadle

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39BE2Wessington SpringsPrehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39BE3WolseyPrehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39BE14HuronJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR
39BE15HuronJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR
39BE23HuronJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR
39BE46HuronJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR
39BE48HuronJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR
39BE57YaleJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR
39BE64YaleJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR

Buffalo

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
Crow Creek Site39BF11ChamberlainMiddle MissouriNational Historic Landmark relating to Crow Creek massacre
Farm School site39BF220Fort ThompsonSite partially lost under the Missouri River[2]
Fire Cloud site39BF237Fort ThompsonCache pit containing ceramics, likely early 18th century[3]
Fort Thompson Archeological DistrictFort ThompsonBig Bend Area MRA
Fort Thompson MoundsFort ThompsonPlains WoodlandNational Historic Landmark District
Old Quarry Mound39BF234Burial mound complex[4]
Side Hill site39BF233Burial mound complex
Sitting Crow site39BF225Burial mound complex
Talking Crow Archeological Site39BF3Fort Thompson
Two Teeth site39BF204

Custer

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39CU70CusterRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
Scored Rocks39CU91Protohistoric (Lakota)Rock art site, depicts guns; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU510Rock art site; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU511Rock art site; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU512Rock art site; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU513Rock art site; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU514Rock art site; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU515Rock art site; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU516Rock art site; Rock Art in the Southern Black Hills TR
39CU890HermosaRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39CU1619CusterCairn and stone circle site
39CU2565DeweyRock art site
39CU3178DeweyRock art site
39CU3393DeweyRock art site
39CU4164DeweyRock art site

Davison

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
Mitchell Site39DV2MitchellMississippian cultureOpen to the public
39DV9RiversideJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR
39DV24MitchellJames River Basin Woodland Sites TR

Fall River

Numerous archeological sites in Fall River County were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in batches in 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2016. These were deemed significant for their information potential. In most cases, the specific locations of these sites are not disclosed, but their general regions are.

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39FA86EdgemontPlains VillageRock art site including inscription(s) by member(s) of the 1874 Black Hills Expedition;[5] Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA88EdgemontPoncaRock art site; rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA89EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA90EdgemontRock art site, rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA99EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA243EdgemontRock art site, rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA244EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA316EdgemontRock art site, including painted rock art; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA321EdgemontPoncaRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA395EdgemontMiddle Archaic (McKean complex)"Pecked Realistic" rock art; a rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA446EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA447EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA448EdgemontRock art site; rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA542EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA678EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA679EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA680EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA682EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA683EdgemontRock art site; rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA686EdgemontRock art site; rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA688EdgemontRock art site; rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA690EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA691EdgemontLate PrehistoricRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA767EdgemontRock art site; rock shelter and cave site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA788EdgemontRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA806Hot SpringsRock art site; Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA819EdgemontPrehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA1010Hot SpringsLate ArchaicPrehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS
39FA1013
39FA1046
39FA1049
39FA1093
39FA1152
39FA1154
39FA1155
39FA1190
39FA1201
39FA1204
39FA1336
39FA1337
39FA1638
39FA2530
39FA2531
39FA7
39FA58
39FA75
39FA79
39FA91
39FA94
39FA277
39FA389
39FA554
39FA676
39FA677
39FA681
39FA684Pecked rock art
39FA685
39FA687
39FA1303
39FA1639

Hanson

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
Bloom Site39HS1BloomNational Historic Landmark
39HS3Mitchell
Fort James39HS48Rosedale ColonyHistoric (1865–1867)U.S. Government fort
Sheldon Reese Site39HS23Mitchell

Harding

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
Ludlow Cave39HN1A multiple-component ceremonial rock art site in North Cave Hills including projectile points, a rock shelter/cave, turtle effigies, and petroforms (now destroyed).
39HN5
39HN17
39HN18
39HN21
39HN22
39HN26
39HN30
39HN50
39HN53
39HN54
39HN121
39HN150
39HN155
39HN159
39HN160
39HN162
39HN165
39HN167
39HN168
39HN171
39HN174
39HN177
39HN198
39HN199
Lightning Spring39HN204LudlowIn Sandstone Buttes area[6]
39HN205
39HN207
39HN208
39HN209
39HN210
39HN213
39HN217
39HN218
39HN219
39HN227
39HN228
39HN232
39HN234
39HN484
39HN485
39HN486
39HN487

Hughes

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
Arzberger siteNational Historic Landmark, on bluff above McClure site
Cedar Islands Archeological District
Fort George Creek Archeological DistrictPart of Big Bend Area MRA
McClure site39HU7Part of Big Bend Area MRA
Medicine Creek Archeological DistrictHas 21 contributing sites including a village site. Partially in Lyman County
Old Fort Sully39HU52Historic (1863–1866)U.S. Government fort
39HU66Part of the Petroforms of South Dakota Thematic Resource (TR)
39HU189Part of the Petroforms of South Dakota TR
39HU201Part of the Petroforms of South Dakota TR

Hutchinson

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39HT14OlivetPlains WoodlandMound site
39HT27Plains WoodlandMound site
39HT29ClaytonPlains WoodlandMound site
39HT30
39HT202		ClaytonPlains Woodland (Randall phase)Mound site

Jerauld

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39JE10Wessington Springs
39JE11Gann Valley

Lyman

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
Burnt Prairie Site39LM207Lower Brule
Crazy Bull site39LM220Lower Brule[7]
Deerfly site39LM39OacomaDakotaLate 19th century occupation[8]
Dinehart Village Archeological SiteOacoma
Fort Lookout IVOacoma
Jiggs Thompson Site39LM208Lower Brule
King Archaeological SiteOacoma
Langdeau Site39LM209Lower BruleNational Historic Landmark
Meander site39LM201Oacoma[9]
Medicine Creek Archeological DistrictHas 21 contributing sites including a village site. Partially in Hughes County

Meade

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39MD1
39MD20		Rock art site; has stone circle. The site is in the eastern foothills of the Black Hills "lying in a deep arroyo"; the "rimrock above the arroyo contained a stone circle and a scatter of chipped stone artifacts"; the stone circle was "test excavated" and found, however, to have very little "chipping debris".
39MD81
39MD82

Pennington

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39PN57Rock art site
39PN108Rock art site
Ice Cave39PN376Paleoindian, Middle Archaic, Late Archaic, Late Prehistoric, HistoricRock shelter cave site with red-painted hand prints
39PN438Rock art site
39PN439Rock art site

Potter

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39PO63Gettysburg
39PO205Gettysburg

Sanborn

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39SB15Mitchell
39SB18Forestburg
39SB31Forestburg

Spink

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
39SP2Frankfort
39SP4Tulare
39SP12Ashton
39SP19Spink Colony
39SP37Crandon
39SP46Crandon

Stanley

NameSITSNRHPNearest localityAssociationsNotes
Antelope Creek Site39ST55Fort PierreBig Bend Area MRA
Bloody Hand Site39ST230Fort PierreBig Bend Area MRA
Fort Pierre ChouteauFort PierreHistoricNational Historic Landmark
Fort Pierre II39ST217Fort Pierre

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Dakota State Historical Society Archaeological Aesearch Center . South Dakota State Historical Society . April 8, 2024.
  2. Neuman . Robert W. . Salvage Archaeology at a Site Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota . Plains Anthropologist . 1961 . 6 . 13 . 189–200 . 25666355 . April 21, 2024 . JSTOR.
  3. Karklins . Karlis . The Fire Cloud Site (39BF237), Buffalo County, South Dakota . Plains Anthropologist . 1970 . 15 . 48 . 135–142 . April 21, 2024 . 25666924 . JSTOR.
  4. Neuman . Robert . Field Season, 1961 . Plains Anthropologist . 1962 . 7 . 16 . 81 . 25666415 . April 21, 2024 . JSTOR.
  5. South Dakota State Plan for Archaeological Resources, 2018 Update . Sundstrom . Linea . April 2019 . . none.
  6. James D. Keyser . John L. Fagan . 1993 . McKean Lithic Technology at Lightning Spring . . 38 . 37–51 . 10.1080/2052546.1993.11931644 . 25669181 . 145.
  7. Frantz . Wendell . Crazy Bull Site (39LM220), Big Bend Reservoir, South Dakota . Plans Anthropologist . 1962 . 7 . 15 . 36–42 . April 21, 2024 . . 25666399.
  8. Lees . William B. . Dakota Acculturation During the Early Reservation Period: Evidence from the Deerfly Site (39LM39), South Dakota . Plains Anthropologist . 1985 . 30 . 108 . 103–121 . April 21, 2024 . . 25668523.
  9. Husted . Wilfred M. . The Meader Site (39LM201) in Fort Randall Reservoir, South Dakota . Plains Anthropologist . 1965 . 10 . 29 . 152–165 . April 21, 2024 . 25666640 . JSTOR.
  10. Web site: Linea Sundstrom . February 25, 1993 . [{{NRHP url|id=64500583}} National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Prehistoric Rock Art of South Dakota MPS ]. February 28, 2021 . National Park Service. (with 11 rock art sketches) (from partly NPS-funded project directed by Linea Sundstrom)

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