Arzberger site facts for kids
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Arzberger site
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Countryside at the site
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| Location | Address restricted |
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| Nearest city | Pierre, South Dakota |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000715 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
The Arzberger site is a very important archaeological site in Hughes County, near Pierre, South Dakota. Archaeologists gave it the special code 39HU6. In 1964, it was named a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a place with great historical value.
This site was once a large village with strong defenses. It is known as the main example for the Initial Coalescent culture. This culture was active in the area from about 1200 to 1350 CE.
Contents
Discovering the Arzberger Site
The Arzberger site is located on a high piece of land. It looks out over the east bank of the Missouri River. This spot is about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Pierre.
What the Village Looked Like
The site was once a large village that was protected. It had a strong wooden fence, called a stockade, all around it. This stockade covered about 44 acres (18 hectares) of land. The fence had 24 strong towers, called bastions, to help defend it. Inside the stockade, archaeologists found signs of 44 houses.
The Initial Coalescent Culture
The Arzberger site is very important for understanding a group of people called the Initial Coalescent culture. They lived in this area from about 1200 to 1350 CE. Even though it's a key site for this culture, it seems to be one of their later villages. It might even be one of their last settlements.
These people appear to have left the region not long after. Another group, the Middle Missouri culture, then became the main people in the area. The Arzberger site is also not far from the Crow Creek Site, another important historical location.
Early Excavations and Discoveries
The first major digs at the Arzberger site happened in 1939. William Duncan Strong and Albert Spaulding led these excavations. They dug up parts of the defensive ditch and one of the bastions. They also explored four of the houses.
Types of Houses and What Was Found
Of the houses they dug up, two were typical round earth lodges. These were common for people living in the plains. One house, however, was more rectangular in shape. This style was more often seen in areas further north, like North Dakota.
Inside the houses, archaeologists found fire pits. These were used for cooking and warmth. They also found cache pits, which are storage holes. These pits were used to store food and other important items. Some cache pits were found inside the houses, and others were outside.
The pottery found at the site was also very interesting. According to Strong, the style of this pottery seems to be an early form. It looks like it could be related to the pottery of both the Arikara people to the north and the Pawnee people to the south. This suggests a connection between these different groups.
