Vanderbilt Archeological Site facts for kids
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Vanderbilt Archeological Site
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| Location | Address restricted |
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| Nearest city | Pollock, South Dakota |
| Area | 18.5 acres (7.5 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000342 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 18, 1997 |
| Designated NHL | February 18, 1997 |
The Vanderbilt Archeological Site is an archaeological site located by Lake Oahe in Campbell County, South Dakota. It is near the town of Pollock, South Dakota. This special place holds the remains of an old Native American village. Experts believe this village dates back to around 1300 AD.
Even though the lake's waves are slowly wearing away parts of the site, it is still very important. Scientists think it can teach us a lot about how early Native Americans lived and moved around this area. Because of its importance, the site was named a National Historic Landmark in 1997.
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What is the Vanderbilt Site?
This amazing site was first noticed by people interested in history in the early 1900s. However, its exact location was mixed up a few times. The first official study of the site happened in 1979.
What Did Archaeologists Find?
During the 1979 study, archaeologists found 22 round dips in the ground. These dips showed where houses used to stand. They also found evidence of trash pits and a midden, which is like an ancient garbage dump.
Workers at the site collected more than 200 pieces of broken pottery. They also found small stone chips, which are left over from making tools. Other finds included projectile points (like arrowheads) and different kinds of stone tools. Bones from animals like bison were also discovered. These finds help us understand what people ate and how they lived.
Why is This Site Important?
The Vanderbilt Site is part of a larger group of ancient villages along the Missouri River. These villages are thought to be the biggest collection of farming settlements from that time in all of North America. This makes the Vanderbilt Site a key piece of a much bigger puzzle about early American history.
How Do We Protect the Site?
Archaeologists visited the site again in 1990 and 1993. Their main goal was to see how the changing water levels of the lake were affecting the site. They wanted to understand how much erosion was happening and how to protect this valuable historical place for the future.
