High Butte Effigy and Village Site facts for kids

The High Butte Effigy and Village Site is a very old and special place in North Dakota. It's near the Garrison Dam and a town called Riverdale, North Dakota. This site was created by Native American people long, long ago. It's famous because it has a giant shape of a turtle made on the ground!

What is an Effigy?

An effigy is a shape or figure made to look like something, often an animal or person. At High Butte, the effigy is a huge turtle shape carved into the ground. It's made by cutting away turf (the top layer of grass and soil). This "turf cut turtle effigy" is a special kind of ancient art.

Exploring the High Butte Site

The High Butte site is located on top of a "butte," which is a tall, flat-topped hill with steep sides. From this high spot, people long ago would have had a great view of the land around them.

Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, have found many interesting things at this site. They found 14 "points," which are probably arrowheads or spear points used for hunting. They also found 24 "body sherds" and five "rim sherds." Sherds are pieces of broken pottery, like parts of ancient bowls or jars. Another cool discovery was a "grooved paddle," which was likely used to decorate pottery. These items help us learn about the daily lives of the people who lived here.

Protecting This Ancient Place

The High Butte Effigy and Village Site is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This is a list of places in the United States that are worth saving because of their history.

Today, the site is protected by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. They call it the Turtle Effigy State Historic Site. This protection helps make sure that this amazing piece of Native American history is preserved for everyone to learn from and enjoy for many years to come.