In-depth look at the Knife River archaeological record and its broader landscape
This volume presents the results of the Phase I archaeological research program at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, focusing on the interpretation of the archaeological record. It combines geology, settlement patterns, ceramic analysis, and cultural taxonomy to illuminate Hidatsa and Mandan lifeways across the Northern Plains.
- Explore how landforms, river terraces, and Quaternary geology shape where artifacts are found and what they reveal about past communities.
- Learn how researchers classify sites into cultural complexes and how these groupings help tell the story of village life, trade, and migration.
- Review the methods used to analyze pottery, lithics, fauna, and other material remains, and how these data support broader cultural histories.
- Understand the regional connections and the narrative of population change, settlement patterns, and long‑term cultural development in the Knife River area.
Ideal for readers of Plains archaeology, cultural history, and museum-interpretation materials who want a rigorous, data-driven view of how archaeological records are interpreted in a park setting.