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. 129.2:Ar2/16 TheArcheologyofBeaver.. The Archeology of Beaver Creek Shelter (39CU779): „.,. ClemsonUniversity A Preliminary Statement OOG^EKre IIUHlifi'lTli PUBLIC 3 1604 016 837 108 DEP03 lTEM '-'' 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 : jomw 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