North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Graphic/Image:
Project Name: Whistling Elk Village, SD (39HU242);
References: Toom, D. L. and K. L. Kvamme (2001). The "Big House" at Whistling Elk Village (39HU242): Geophysical Findings and Archaeological Truths. Plains Anthropologist, in press.
Kvamme, K.L. (2000). Current Practices in Archaeogeophysics: Magnetics, Resistivity, Conductivity, and Ground-Penetrating Radar. In Earth Sciences and Archaeology, P. Goldberg, V. Holliday, and R. Ferring, eds., Plenum Press, New York, pp. 353-384.
Kvamme, K.L. (1999). Geophysical Explorations at the Whistling Elk Site (39HU242), Hughes County, South Dakota, 1998 Field Season. Submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Office.
Kvamme, K.L. (1999). The Whistling Elk Subsurface Imaging Project. http://www.cast.uark.edu/~kkvamme/Whistle/Whistle.htm
Kvamme, K.L. (1998). Geophysical Exploration at the Whistling Elk Site (39HU242), Hughes County, South Dakota. Submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Office.
An
unusually large house (10 m wide), probably used for ceremonial purposes, was
revealed by geophysical
surveys at Whistling Elk Village, SD. The resistivity data at a 1 m prospecting
depth indicated its square form
and exterior entryway facing southeast (left). The magnetic data (middle) showed
the central hearth, at least 3 of
the central support posts, all classic features of Initial Coalescent houses,
and extensive burning along the
walls. Test excavations in this "Big House," performed by the University
of North Dakota archaeological field
school directed by Dennis Toom, confirmed the locus of the hearth, a major support
post, and the presence of
intensive burning (right). The floor contained bison bone and numerous artifacts,
including a complete pot.
Depth to the floor was 98 cm.