{"id":67,"date":"2025-11-19T20:14:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T01:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/?p=67"},"modified":"2026-02-06T11:48:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T16:48:07","slug":"river-basin-surveys-historic-sites-collections-and-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/2025\/11\/19\/river-basin-surveys-historic-sites-collections-and-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"River Basin Surveys Historic Sites: Collections and Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Lotte Govaerts<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(This post was originally published on the Rogers Archaeology Lab blog on Febrary 12, 2014. You can see the original post archived here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this page you will find information relating to historic sites excavated by River Basin Surveys (RBS) archaeologists along the Upper Missouri. Listed below are only those sites that were defined as “historic” by RBS researchers. All of these sites date to the 19th century and are related to the fur trade, US military, and Indian Agencies. Contemporary Native American sites were not included with the exception of Like-A-Fishhook Village which shares site number 32ML2 with Forts Berthold I and II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sites are organized into tables by dam\/reservoir area. The “site” column contains site numbers, as well as any common site names associated with those numbers. The “Artifact collection” column describes whether artifact collections associated with  sites are wholly or partially  curated here at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Detailed descriptions of curated items can be accessed via the Smithsonian’s Collections Search Center<\/a>.  Entering a site number into the search box will bring up all materials related to this site number. “The Archives” column contains information on the archival collections relating to each site, contained in the River Basin Surveys collections held at the National Anthropological Archives<\/a> at NMNH (see also: the National Anthropological Archives’  guide to the River Basin Surveys collections<\/a>). The “Publications” column contains publications relevant to each site and its excavation. Bolded items in this column are the main RBS publications on the archaeological excavation of a particular site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This page is a work in progress. More information, and possibly additional sites will be added as my research continues. If you are aware of any relevant material that is missing from this page, please feel free to leave a comment below. More information on the River Basin Surveys can be found on our main RBS page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garrison Dam:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications relating to RBS historical archaeology of the Garrison Dam project in general: Mattes 1960; Mattison 1951a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Site<\/th>Artifact collection<\/th>Archives<\/th>Publications<\/th><\/tr>
32ML1<\/strong> Fort Stevenson<\/td>1 “restored vessel” in NMNH collection. Full collections (6,099 items) curated elsewhere<\/td>Box 261: Site forms, field drawings, correspondence re: artifact identification, historic photographs of fort, excavation photographs , artifact catalog(s)<\/td>Mattes 1960; Mattison 1951a, 1951b; Smith 1954; Smith 1960b<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
32ML2<\/strong> Fort Berthold\/Like-A-Fishhook Village<\/td>Berthold II: 651 lots in NMNH collection. Berthold I and Like-A-Fishhook: small number of items in collection (from initial survey?)<\/td>Box 261 – 262: Site form + continuation forms. Site plans\/drawings, historic photographs of fort & village, excavation photos, artifact catalog<\/td>Mattes 1960; Mattison 1951a, 1951b; Smith 1955; Smith 1972<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
32ML50<\/strong> Congregational Mission<\/td>No artifacts in NMNH collection<\/td>Box 266: drawings of stone footings<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
32MN1<\/strong> Kipp’s Post \/ Fort Floyd<\/td>No artifacts in NMNH collection<\/td>Box 266: site form + cont. form, drawings\/maps, journal entries from excavations, transcript of 1872 Kipp letter \u201cOn the Accuracy of Catlin\u2019s Account of the Mandan Ceremonies\u201d, catalog, faunal analysis, bead analysis<\/td>Mattes 1960; Mattison 1951a; Woolworth & Wood 1960; <\/strong>Hunt 1994<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fort Randall Dam:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications relating to RBS historical archaeology of the Fort Randall Dam project in general: Mattes 1949, 1960; Mills 1960.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Site<\/th>Artifact collection<\/th>Archives<\/th>Publications<\/th><\/tr>
39GR4 <\/strong> Whetstone Agency<\/td>351 lots in collection<\/td>Box 306: site form, site plans, excavation photos, historical records from war department, office of the quartermaster general, catalog, faunal analysis, botanical analysis<\/td>Clow 1977; Mattes 1949, 1960; Mills 1960<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39GR15 <\/strong> Fort Randall<\/td>185 lots in collection<\/td>Box 307: site form, maps, feature forms, excavation photos, catalog, faunal analysis.<\/td>Greene 2005; Lees 1991; Mattes 1949, 1960; Mills 1960<\/strong>; Vaillancourt 1992<\/td><\/tr>
39LM53<\/strong> Fort Lower Brule<\/td>499 lots in collection<\/td>Box 316: Site form, feature forms, correspondence re: artifact analysis, catalog.<\/td>Mattes 1949, 1960; Mills 1960<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39LM54<\/strong> Lower Brule Agency<\/td>93 lots in collection<\/td>Box 316: site form, catalog<\/td>Mattes 1949, 1960; Mills 1960<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39LM57<\/strong> Fort Lookout I, II, or IV?<\/td>934 lots in collection<\/td>Box 316-317: Site forms, feature forms, drawings, Miller report on 1951 work, excavation photos, catalog, faunal analysis.<\/td>Anderson 1961; Grady & Carrasco 1989; Lueck 1983; Mattes 1949, 1960; Miller 1960<\/strong>; Mills 1960<\/td><\/tr>
39LM63<\/strong> Fort Lookout IV?<\/td>69 lots in collection<\/td>Box 317: Site form, feature form, copies of 1856 letters re: expedition camp near mouth of Big Sioux, excavation photos, catalog.<\/td>Lueck 1983?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Big Bend Dam:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications relating to RBS historical archaeology of the Big Bend Dam project in general: Mattison 1962; Smith 1968.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Site<\/th>Artifact collection<\/th>Archives<\/th>Publications<\/th><\/tr>
39HU52<\/strong> Fort Sully I<\/td>12 lots in collection<\/td>Box 310: Site form, catalog<\/td>Mattison 1962; Ruple 1984<\/td><\/tr>
39HU301 <\/strong><\/td>211 lots in collection<\/td>Box 312: Site form, maps, excavation photos, catalog, faunal analysis.<\/td>Mattison 1962; Smith 1968<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39LM241<\/strong><\/td>321 lots in collection<\/td>Box 324-325: Site forms w. multiple continuation forms, site plans, excavation photos, catalog, faunal analysis.<\/td>Mattison 1962; Smith 1968<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39LM247<\/strong> Red Cloud Agency III<\/td>183 lots in collection<\/td>Box 325: Site form, site map, notes, excavation photos, catalog<\/td>Mattison 1962; Smith 1968<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39ST202<\/strong> Fort George<\/td>219 lots in collection<\/td>Box 358: Field journal, excavation photos, catalog<\/td>Mattison 1962; Smith 1968<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oahe Dam:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications relating to RBS historical archaeology of the Oahe Dam project in general: Caldwell & Smith 1963; Mattison 1953.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Site<\/th>Artifact collection<\/th>Archives<\/th>Publications<\/th><\/tr>
32EM211 <\/strong> Winona townsite<\/td>29 lots in collection<\/td>Box 249: Site form, excavation photos, catalog<\/td>Mattison 1953<\/td><\/tr>
39CO5<\/strong> Fort Manuel<\/td>3 lots in collection<\/td>Box 292: excavation photos (?)<\/td>Mattison 1953; Caldwel & Smith 1963; Smith & Ludwickson 1981<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39SL45 <\/strong>Fort Sully II<\/td>No artifacts in collection<\/td>Box 339: Site form, excavation photos, catalog, faunal analysis<\/td>Mattison 1953; Caldwel & Smith 1963<\/td><\/tr>
39ST217<\/strong> Fort Pierre II<\/td>1378 lots in collection<\/td>Box 360: Site form, correspondence, maps, excavation photos, catalog, faunal analysis, botanical analysis.<\/td>Anderson 1962; Caldwell & Smith 1963; Mattes 1960; Mattison 1953; Smith 1960a<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
39ST237<\/strong> Fort Pierre<\/td>21 lots in collection<\/td>Box 362: Site form, site photos, catalog<\/td>Caldwell & Smith 1963; Mattison 1953; Ruple 1990a, 1990b; Fosha 2010; Fosha & Haugh 2010<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

References Cited:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caldwell, Warren W. and G. Hubert Smith 1963. Oahe Reservoir: Archeology, Geology, History<\/em>. Omaha, Corps of Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fosha, Mike 2010 The 1997\u20132001 Excavations at Fort Pierre Chouteau Volume 1: The Excavations<\/em>. South Dakota State Historical Society Archaeological Research Center, Research Report No. 3, vol. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fosha, Mike and James K. Haug 2010 The 1997\u20132001 Excavations at Fort Pierre Chouteau Volume 2: Material Culture<\/em>. South Dakota State Historical Society Archaeological Research Center, Research Report No. 3, vol. 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunt, William J. 1994 Fort Floyd: History and Archaeology of an Enigmatic 19th Century Trading Post. North Dakota History, vol. 61, No. 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lueck, Edward J., 1983, Prince Maximilian\u2019s \u201cTwo\u201d Fort Lookouts, and More (or Less). South Dakota Archaeology<\/em>, vol. 7 pp 80-98.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattes, Merrill J. 1947. Historic Sites in Missouri Valley Reservoir Areas. Nebraska History<\/em>, vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 1-5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattes, Merrill J. 1949. Historic Sites in the Fort Randall Reservoir Area. South Dakota History Collections<\/em>, vol. 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattes, Merrill J. 1960. Historic Sites Archeology on the Upper Missouri, River Basin Surveys Papers<\/em>, No. 15, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin<\/em>176, United States Printing Office, Washington D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattison, Ray H. 1951a. Report on the Historic Sites in the Garrison Reservoir Area, Missouri River (North Dakota). North Dakota History<\/em>, Vol. 22. No. 1 and 2, pp 5-73. State Historical Society of North Dakota: Bismarck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattison, Ray H. 1951b Old Fort Stevenson, a typical Missouri River Military Post. North Dakota History<\/em>, vol. 18, Nos. 2-3, pp. 2-40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattison, Ray H. 1954. Report on Historical Aspects of the Oahe Reservoir Area, Missouri River, South and North Dakota. South Dakota History Collections<\/em>, vol. 27. Pierre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattison, Ray H. 1955. Report on Historic Sites in the Garrison Reservoir Area, Missouri River [North Dakota]. North Dakota History<\/em>, vol. 22, nos. 1-2, pp 5-73. Bismarck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattison, Ray H. 1962. Historic Aspects of the Big Bend Reservoir Area. South Dakota History Collections<\/em> vol. 31, pp. 243-286, Pierre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mills John E. 1960. Historic Sites Archeology in the Fort Randall Reservoir, South Dakota, River Basin Survey Papers<\/em>, No. 16, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin<\/em>176, United States Printing Office, Washington D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miller, Carl F. 1960. The Excavation and Investigation of Fort Lookout Trading Post II (Site 39LM57) in the Fort Randall Reservoir, South Dakota, River Basin Surveys Papers<\/em>, No. 17, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin<\/em>176, United States Printing Office, Washington D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruple, Steven D. 1984. Analysis of artifacts from a test excavation at the site of Fort Sully I, (39HU52), Hughes County, South Dakota<\/em>, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, Nebraska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruple, Steven D. 1990a Excavations at Fort Pierre Chouteau (39ST237) 1980 and 1981, Stanley County, South Dakota. Contract report. Prepared for the Archaeological Research Center, Rapid City, South Dakota.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruple, Steven D. 1990b A History of Fort Pierre Chouteau (39ST237), A Fur Trading Post in Stanley County, South Dakota<\/em>. Unpublished manuscript, on file at the Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith Carlyle S. 1954. Cartridges and Bullets from Fort Stevenson, North Dakota, Plains Anthropologist<\/em> 1, 25-29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith, Carlyle S. 1955.  An Analysis of the Firearms and Related Specimens from Like-A-Fishhook Village and Fort Berthold I, Plains Anthropologist<\/em>, No. 4:3-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith G. Hubert 1954a. Archaeological Work at 32ML2 (Like-A-Fishhook Village and Fort Berthold), Garrison Reservoir Area, North Dakota 1950-1954. Plains Anthropologist<\/em> No. 2, 27-32.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith, G. Hubert  1954b. Excavations at Fort Stevenson, 1951, North Dakota History<\/em> vol. 21, no. 3, 127-135.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith G. Hubert 1960a. Fort Pierre II (39ST217), a Historic Trading Post in the Oahe Dam Area, South Dakota, River Basin Surveys Papers<\/em> No. 18, Smithsonian Institution Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin<\/em>176.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith G. Hubert 1960b Archeological Investigations at the Site of Fort Stevenson (32ML1), Garrison Reservoir, North Dakota, River Basin Survey Papers<\/em>, No. 19, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin<\/em> 176.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith G. Hubert 1968. Big Bend Historic Sites<\/em>, Smithsonian Institution River Basin Surveys Publications in Salvage Archaeology No. 9, Lincoln Nebraska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith G. Hubert 1972. Like-a-Fishhook Village and Fort Berthold, Garrison Reservoir, North Dakota<\/em>. National Park Service Anthropological Papers No. 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith G. Hubert and Jon Ludwickson 1981. Fort Manuel: The Archeology of an Upper Missouri Trading Post of 1812-1813<\/em>. South Dakota Archaeological Society, Special Publication No. 7. University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woolworth Alan R. and W. Raymond Wood 1960, The Archaeology of a Small Trading Post (Kipp’s Post, 31MN1) in the Garrison Reservoir, North Dakota. River Basin Survey Papers<\/em>, No. 20, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin<\/em> 176.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On this page you will find information relating to historic sites excavated by River Basin Surveys (RBS) archaeologists along the Upper Missouri. Listed below are only those sites that were defined as “historic” by RBS researchers. All of these sites date to the 19th century and are related to the fur trade, US military, and Indian Agencies. Contemporary Native American sites were not included with the exception of Like-A-Fishhook Village which shares site number 32ML2 with Forts Berthold I and II.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":68,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,10,7,8,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archaeology","category-books","category-collections","category-collections-research","category-history","has-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":214,"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67\/revisions\/214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lottegovaerts.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}