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Welcome to the 1st Station : The Mystery of Pictograph Cave
What
is Pictograph Cave State Park?
Pictograph Cave State Park is one
of 41 state parks in Montana. Montana's state parks include ghost towns, caverns,
rivers, lakes, buffalo jumps, historic sites and archeological sites such as Pictograph
Cave. The job of Montana state parks is to preserve, protect and share interesting,
beautiful and important places in Montana. Pictograph Cave State Park is one of
these special places.
Thousands of years ago, native people used Pictograph
and Ghost Cave as campsites when they were hunting or traveling in this area.
The Cave provided shelter from wind, snow, rain or the hot summer sun. Food and
water were easy to find nearby. People camping here sometimes left behind tools,
pottery or other things that broke or were no longer useful. Slowly, rocks falling
from the ceiling covered these things. People living in much of this part of North
America for many thousands of years. They lived, camped and traveled over much
of the land. There are many places where people camped and left behind things
just like they did at Pictograph Cave.
Think about a time that you might have
gone outdoors and lost a toy or something! As people moved to North America from
Europe and other places, they began to wonder about the people who lived here
before them. They began to find a lot of these little things all over the country.
They wondered where people lived first, how they lived, and how long ago they
lived in different places. For a long time, all they could do was wonder! Since
the people who camped here did not write down anything about their lives, we do
not know much about them.
When we wanted to learn about them, we found that
there are really only two ways that we can do this. We can ask people, such as
Crow and Northern Cheyenne people, whose ancestors may have lived hear, about
what stories they may have been told about the people that came before them. Though
Native American people didn't write things down thousands of years ago, they did
tell stories to their children. Their children remembered these stories, and then
told them when they became parents. These stories are called "Oral Traditions,"
and they can help us to understand how people lived long ago.
Another way
to learn about the past is through Archeology (ARK-e-oll-o-gee). People who study
archeology are called archeologists (ARK-e-oll-o-jists). Archeologists study the
past in many ways today they use many methods, including, chemistry, physics,
and very powerful microscopes. Around 60 years ago, archeologists didn't have
all of the modern tools that they have today. They mostly used digging, or excavation
to find things that other people left behind.
One day, about 60 years ago,
some archeologists were looking around in Pictograph Cave, and they started finding
some things left behind by people long ago. Archeologists call these things artifacts.
Soon they called in other archeologists to help. The year was 1937. Before the
year was over, the archeologists had excavated, or dug out a large area of Pictograph
Cave. They learned that all artifacts that they found looked like artifacts found
at many other places in Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota. They also learned
that these artifacts were in layers. They knew that the artifacts in the lower
layers were the oldest, those in the next layer up were the second oldest, and
those at the top were the newest! This was the first time in this part of the
country that anyone had found a place that showed so clearly which artifacts were
older than others!
A man named William Mulloy was studying to teach archeology,
and he wrote a book about this discovery at Pictograph Cave. He expalined how
this discovery could be used to help figure out how old the artifacts were at
all of these other sites by comparing them to the artifacts at Pictograph Cave.
When people learned how important Pictograph Cave was for learning how old all
of these other sites were, they decided that this place should be protected and
preserved for the future.
In 1964, the National Park Service awarded Pictograph
Cave the designation of "National Historic Landmark." This means that this site
is a very important site in helping us to understand the history of our country.
In 1969, the Governor of Montana named Pictograph Cave as a State Park.
Today,
you can visit Pictograph Cave and take a tour. You can learn about the people
who lived here thousands of years ago, and see the pictographs that they painted
on the walls in Pictograph Cave.
If you live nearby and your class wants to
visit the park, you all you need to do to make a reservation is to fill out a
form.
What makes this park
special?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
Why
is Bitter Creek bitter?
First of all, remember that what is bitter
is sometimes a matter of opinion! Most people that have tasted the water of Bitter
Creek did not like the taste. Cattle do drink this water, and while it may not
be the best water for them, it doesn't appear to hurt them.
Bitter Creek starts
in the hills near Pictograph Cave, and is probably fed by some springs in the
area. Springs are formed when rain water and melting snow seep into the ground
in one area, and flow out in another. (While the water is underground, it is called
an aquifer.) Before the water seeps in the ground, it picks up some of the carbon
dioxide in the air, and becomes very slightly acidic. When this water flows underground,
it starts to dissolve some of the minerals in the rocks that it flows by. It dissolves
salts in the ground easily, and these salts become mixed with the water. (If you
put a little bit of salt in a glass of water and stir it, you will see that the
salt dissolves in the water.)
The salts and minerals that are under the ground
depend on the geology (Gee-oll-O-gee) of the area. Around Pictograph Cave the
major rock type is Eagle Sandstone. From this sandstone, the water can dissolve
sodium, carbonate and sulfates. Once these substances are dissolved in the water,
we can't see them, but we can sure taste them! If you want to see what substances
are dissolved in water, take a small amount of water and place it in a clear glass
bowl in a sunny location. The water will evaporate, and any salts will be left
behind.
The people who lived in Pictograph Cave thousands of years ago probably
didn't have to drink the water from Bitter Creek. There was a spring that flowed
from the rocks right near Pictograph Cave, which provided good-tasting water.
How was this possible so close to Bitter Creek? The Pictograph Cave spring probably
flowed through different rocks that didn't have the same minerals, so it didn't
end up bitter. Bitter tasting creeks occur in many parts of the western United
States. Some are mildly bitter, and only have a very slight bad taste. Other creeks
are so bitter that they smell bad and can be poisonous. Be careful before you
drink water from a source that you are not sure of. From:
John Weaton, MT Bureau of Mines and Geology and Ken Oravsky
What
animals live in the area of the Cave?
There are mule deer,
raccoons, gophers, skunks, and rabbits.
The gopher is a small animal that lives in long complex underground tunnels. They have short legs, a broad, blunt head, small ears and eyes, and a short tail.
The skunk is a small furry animal with distinctive black and white markings. It is known for the foul smelling liquid it sprays when frightened or in danger. This spray is called musk.
The Cottontail are a small rabbit with a furry white tail. The Jack Rabbit is a long rangy rabbit with long rear legs which help it to be able to run very quickly. Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation and The World Book Encyclopedia, copyright 1989, World Book, Inc
Welcome to the 2nd Station : Formation of the Cave
How
did the Cave form?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
How
old are the Caves?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
What
is the colorful orange substance growing on the rocks around the Cave?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
What
reptiles live in the area of the Cave?
There are garter, rattle,
and bull snakes, and lizards.
The garter snake is grayish green color, with three light stripes that run along the body, and 18 to 26 inches long. It is a harmless snake.
The rattle snake sometimes is called a Prairie Rattler. They have grayish green marking colors. They are about two to three feet long. They are known for their rattles, which are horny , loosely jointed pieces, that make a buzzing sound when the snake shakes its tail. It does this when it is alarmed or angry.
The lizard resembles snakes with legs. They are various shades of greenish-brown.Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation and The World Book Encyclopedia, copyright 1989, World Book, Inc
SCIENCE
Welcome to the 3rd Station : Pictograph Cave
What
are pictographs?
Sorry, no additional science information
on this question right now.
Why
is it hard to see some of the pictographs today?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
Why
is some rock falling off the walls?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
What
birds build their nests on the walls of the Cave?
Rock Doves
(Columbia livia), usually called pigeons, dwell along the cliffs. The pigeons
nest in some of the weathered holes in the sandstone cliffs.Montana Fish Wildlife and
Parks, Pictograph Cave State Park Trail Guide, 1997.
Pigeons build a flimsy platform nest made of twigs, sticks, and grass. Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation and The World Book Encyclopedia, copyright 1989, World Book, Inc
Although they have many color variations, their basic colors are bluish gray with a darker head and neck and a white rump. Early settlers from Europe introduced these large birds to this area. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Pictograph Cave State Park Trail Guide, 1997.
The Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota) is a common seasonal resident of the Cave and other cliffs around this area. Some years, depending on the availability of mud, many thousands live in the Cave, while other years as few as 50 are present. They build gourd-shaped nests by gathering mud in their beaks and returning to the nesting colony where they continually add to and repair their apartment complex. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Pictograph Cave State Park Trail Guide, 1997.
The nests are built with pellets of mud and are lined with grass, hair, or feathers. One nest contains between 700 and 1,400 pellets, each representing one round trip to a water surce as far away as .8km or .5mile. The swallowsÕ nests are almost as hard as concrete and adhere well to the cliff walls. Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation and The World Book Encyclopedia, copyright 1989, World Book, Inc
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) is Montana's state bird. Visitors usually see the bird close to Bitter Creek and in the open prairie. It has a black V on its bright yellow breast and has white outer tail feathers. It has a distinctive flute-like song that marks the arrival of spring on the prairie.
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) is a small inconspicuous brown wren with a white throat and breast and a chestnut belly. This wren is fairly common in arid and semiarid habitats, sunny slopes, scrublands and dry washes. The area around the Cave is good habitat for these little birds, and people often encounter them as they hike through the park.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), a member of the woodpecker family, is a large bird that turns up most often early in the day. Its flight is deeply undulating, and its white rump is most notable in flight. Brown head, gray face and neck, bold black on white spotted underparts and black crescent on the breast help to identify this conspicuous bird.
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) is usually found along wood edges and roadsides. When this black and white flycatcher is in flight, the white band at the tip of its fan-like tail leaves no doubt as to its identity.
Other birds commonly found in the park include robins, magpies, brown thrashers, bluebirds and a variety of warblers, sparrows, swallows and hawks. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Pictograph Cave State Park Trail Guide, 1997.
Welcome to the 4th Station: Middle Cave
Why
do birds like Middle Cave more than humans do?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
Why
do people call the park active?
Pictograph Cave State Park is
a very active site. Waterfalls gush from the V-shaped notches during a cloudburst
and chisel away large chunks of rock that fall to the valley floor. Not many years
ago, several large pieces fell and rolled down the hills, shattering park benches
on their descent. A natural spring that probably was the original inhabitant's
of the Cave main water supply suddenly stopped one day a few years ago. Park personnel
have recorded some big rock falls at the spring. It is possible that the falling
rocks diverted or closed it off.
The peach color of some of the sandstone
faces indicates where pieces of rock have fallen away fairly recently. As the
sandstone weathers, it starts to turn to a darker brown. The pieces of rock strewn
in the valley also give away their ages. Newly fallen chunks are angular while
older ones are rounded by wind and rain.
The whole valley floor at Pictograph
Cave State Park is composed of huge chunks of rock. Soil and smaller rocks filled
in between the larger chunks, so plants can grow and people have ground to walk
on. The floor can almost be compared to a magician who waves his magic wand: "Now,
you see it; now, you don't." The baffling nature of the valley became real a few
years ago when a pipe leading to the park's 4,000-gallon cistern broke. Within
about eight hours, the entire 4,000 gallons of water drained out of the tank.
This would not be unusual, except that the water disappeared without a trace.
When a main water pipe breaks in a town or city, citizens call for maintenance
because they find the water bubbling up in the street or in their yards. The water
would probably show up somewhere. That was not the case at Pictograph Cave State
Park because the water escaped between the jumble of boulders located underground.
The park also experienced a fire 10-15 years ago, leaving charred stumps as a
reminder. From: Ken Oravsky Tour
Content
What
do dinosaurs have to do with the Cave?
Sorry, no additional science information
on this question right now
Why
were trees important to Native Americans?
Boxelder Tree (Acer
negundo) is a member of the Maple family that derives its name from its similarity
to the Boxwood and the Elder trees. Both the Native American people and later
settlers tapped the Boxelder for its sweetish sap to make syrup and sugar. Native
Americans used the Boxelder for making weapons. They burned the wood in fires
for sweat lodges because it gave off an intense heat and sweet smell when it burned.
They also preferred it because of the length of time it burned. Native Americans
cut off the knots on the trunk and on large branches. Then, they burned and chiseled
out the knots and used them as bowls for soups and liquids.
Pines (pinus):
Ponderosa Pine, also referred to as Yellow or Bull Pine, is the predominant
evergreen at the site of the Cave. They prefer mountain slopes and sheltered drainages.
Limber Pines (Pinus flexilis) also grow at the site, but they need moisture
and shade to grow well. The Limber Pine can be distinguished by its needles which
are bunched at the end of the twig instead of growing along the length of the
branch. It is called limber because its branches are so flexible that they can
be doubled over without breaking. Native Americans ate the seeds of pine trees
or made them into a bread. Early Native American people used the pines for firewood.
They extracted sugar from the cambium (soft inner bark) layers, used the pitch
as a glue and the young trees as lodgepoles. During the excavations of the Cave,
workers uncovered arrowheads that had evidence of pine pitch used to help secure
the arrow shaft to the point. Native Americans also used the pitch to start fires
under wet conditions.
Squirrels and chipmunks as well as birds depend on pine
seeds for food. Porcupines love to eat the cambium layers of pines. Bare spots
high in the bark of the pine tree is a sign that porcupines are in the area.
The
Small Leaf Cottonwood (Populus angustissima) tree is common in Montana
and in surrounding areas. Its cousin, the large-leafed Plains Cottonwood,
grows in open areas, such as along Bitter Creek and the Yellowstone River. Native
Americans used Cottonwood to make dugout canoes and as a convenient fuel source.
Montana Fish Wildlife and
Parks, Pictograph Cave State Park Trail Guide, 1997.
Why
did Native Americans follow the huge buffalo herds?
Sorry, no additional science information
on this question right now
Welcome to the 5th Station : Ghost Cave
Are
there ghosts in Ghost Cave?
Sorry, no additional science information
on this question right now
What
is a concretion?
Sorry, no additional text on this question right now. Check for photographs.
Who
lived here and why?
Sorry, no additional science information
on this question right now
How
did Native Americans use the plants they found around the Cave?
Chokecherry
(Prunus virginiana) is a hardy shrub widely distributed in North America.
The small white flowers give way to dark round fruits, or cherries, with large
seeds. The cherries are edible but will pucker the mouth when not fully ripe.
The Plains Indians mixed the chokecherry with pounded meat and bone grease to
make pemmican. They also ate the berries when ripe, dried them and used the berry
juice for paint and stain. The stem and bark were used to make a tea. Native Americans
used the small straight branches for arrow shafts since the needed little straightening
because of its durability. Wild animals and bird species also depended on the
cherries for food.
Juniper (Juniperus communis) is a shrub which many
mistakenly refer to as cedar. The berries are bluish in color, edible, but unappetizing.
Native Americans squashed the berries for use as dyes, for face paint and, perhaps,
as a pigment for painting pictographs on the cave walls. The seeds were used as
medicines and also as chewing gum. The Native American people used the berries
like aspirin to cure headaches. During the excavation of the Cave, workers found
fire making sticks made of juniper.
Skunkbrush (Lonicera involucrata)
is a bush that is in the honeysuckle family. The berries although tart and sour
were sometimes eaten fresh or were dried for winter use. The juicy fruit ripens
in August and September and is eaten by a variety of birds and small mammals.
Wildflowers: Fifty separate varieties of wildflowers have been identified
at the site of the Cave. Early spring brings the Crocuses, Buttercups, Dandelions
and Shooting Stars. As the days get longer and warmer, the Yucca blossoms, and
succeeding plants appear, such as Yellowbells, Larkspur, Wild Roses, Harebells
and Starflowers. Flowers, such as Sunflowers, Evening Primrose, Scarlet Falsemallow
and Daisies, last most of the summer while others, such as the Bitterroot and
Cactus, bloom only for a brief period.
The Wild Roses form fruit,
referred to as rosehips, which are very high in vitamin C. Native Americans used
these for food and to make tea. Native Americans used many of the flowers, plants
and roots for food and medicinal purposes. The sweet smells and striking colors
of each plant during its short season enriched the lives of the Native American
people who lived in the Cave.
Yucca (Yucca angustissima) has long
needle-like leaves. The Yucca of the upper plains is a smaller version of those
many people are familiar with in the Southwest United States. Yucca, called Soapweed
by the Plains Indians, has a foamy sap that comes from the root. Native Americans
used this sap as soap or shampoo. Once the blades or leaves of the plant were
split and dried, they could be used as needle and thread. The tender shoots that
come up in the spring and the flowers are edible. Unlike most plants, the Yucca
is pollinated at night by a small white female Yucca Moth (Tegeticula yuccasella)
which flies only at dusk when the new flower is fully open. Montana Fish Wildlife and
Parks, Pictograph Cave State Park Trail Guide, 1997.
BALSAM ROOT [Balsamorhiza sagittata] is a perennial herb. The inner part
of the young stems were eaten. The roots were baked and eaten. Also the seeds
were eaten much like sunflower seeds. A poultice to put on wounds was made from
boiled roots. A tea made from the root was used to treat tuberculosis and whooping
cough.
BISCUIT-ROOT [Lomatium cous] was dug in spring just after
the plant bloomed. Some roots were eaten raw, some were boiled, and some were
sun-dried for future use. Some tribes used the root and leaves to make a tea that
would ease bowel pain and diarrhea. Biscuit-root was used to make an infusion
to rub on the skin to relieve swelling. As an incense, the biscuit-root purified
and deodorized the air.
BITTERROOT [Lewisia rediviva Pursh] is an
important root crop. The roots were dug after a special ceremony before the plant
bloomed. The roots were often kept a year or two before they were eaten as the
bitter taste would dull with time. The roots were boiled or steamed. They were
eaten plain, mixed with berries, added to meat, or used to thicken gravy. The
bitterroot added variety to the diet and was considered a treat. Tea was also
made from the bitterroot as it was used for heart pain and pleurisy. In addition,
the tea was used to increase milk flow after childbirth. The plant was considered
good for impure blood, helping skin problems and diseases.
BOX ELDER
[Acer negundo L.] trees were used to extract a sweet syrup. The syrup was
used in cooking. The box elder tree was a valued fuel as the wood burns longer
and hotter than most woods. In addition, wood from the lower trunk was used to
make bowls, pipes, drums and such. Also the bark was used to make a medicine for
colds.
BUFFALO-BERRY [Shepherdia argentea Nutt] is a shrub that
produced bright red fruit. The fruit was picked after an early fall freeze. They
were considered sweeter at that time. The fruit was either eaten off the tree
or mashed then dried. Buffalo-berry was then used to make a sauce to flavor buffalo
meat. Buffalo also enjoyed this plant. "Indian ice cream" was made from buffalo-berries.
A few berries and a little water were beat together until foamy. It was a great
treat.
CHOKECHERRY [Prunus virginianna] plants were very valuable.
The berries were picked after the first freeze. Some were eaten then but most
were ground and dried. The dried berries were mixed with dried meat and a grease
to make a dish called pemmican. The dried berries were a basic food stable. The
bark was used to make a cough syrup and a diarrhea medicine. The stems were rolled
in hot coals to be tempered. The tempered stems were like steel and were used
to make arrow shafts. The chokecherry wood was used as a fuel to make fires. It
was believed that no smoke was produced using chokecherry wood.
COTTONWOOD
[Populus angustissima] trees were used as fuel. The firewood made clean smoke
without lots of sparks coming from the fire. The cottonwood had a significant
part in the Sundance religious ceremony. The trunk of a cottonwood was used as
the center pole of the lodge. Also the cottonwood was a food source. The bark
was carefully cut lengthwise. The stringy, spaghetti-like inside was scrapped
out and used for survival food. Dyes and paints were extracted from the plant.
Leaves were used as a poultice for sores, boils, and bruises. Tea from the bark
was used to relieve tuberculosis and whooping cough.
GREASE WOOD
[Sarcobatus] is a bush. A very small amount of this plant was occasionally used
to cleanse the bowels. It also was used as a shampoo to get rid of scabs.
INDIAN BREADROOT [Psoralea esculenta Pursh] or turnip was a valued root
crop. The roots were gathered in June. The bark was removed and the inner white
core was then roasted or dried. A meal was made from the dried core. The meal
was used to thicken soup, make bread, prepare pancakes and make mush. Usually
the root was not eaten raw as it was believed to cause indigestion. On occasion
the Indian Breadroot was boiled and then eaten.
KINNIKINNICK [Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi (L.) Spreng] is also called the bearberry. It was mixed with tobacco
to make the tobacco milder. Kinnikinnick was also eaten but it was not a staple.
The berries were left on the bush until needed during difficult times. The berries
were also used to make pemmican on occasion. A medicine was made from the plant
to make an astringent and a diuretic. Medically, kinnikinnick was used to help
bladder and kidney ailments.
PONDEROSA PINE [Pinus ponderosa Dougl]
is a tree common to Montana. It is officially the state tree. The bark of the
tree was peeled and eaten. It was considered sweet and delicious. This was an
important part of the Indian diet. The bark was also used to start fires. The
bark was removed carefully with special tools. The pitch of the pine was used
to cure boils and carbuncles. A plaster was made with the pitch to abate inflammation
for rheumatism and backaches. The pitch was also used as gum, glue, and burning
fuel. Needles and boughs were heated to fumigate and relieve muscular pain.
PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS [Opuntia Polyacantha Haw] is a plant often eaten by
Native Americans. The plant pulp was eaten raw and also dried and saved for winter
consumption.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIPER [Juniperus scopulorum Sarg] is
a shrub. The plant was used in holy rites and purification ceremonies. The needles
were burned for incense. The stems were tempered and used to make arrow shafts
and bows. The smoke from the burning juniper wood was used to cleanse the air
of any illnesses. Tea was made from the branches and cones to treat colds, fevers,
pneumonia, arthritis, rheumatism, lung or nose hemorrhaging, diarrhea, and cholera.
The berries were chewed and used as a pain killer. They also were used to bring
up the phlegm for respiratory ailments.
SUNFLOWER [Helianthus annuus
L.] was eaten raw or dried for later use. The cakes made from the plant were very
sustaining and useful to the warriors. Long ago this plant was even cultivated
by Native Americans.
WILD ROSE [Rosa spp.] is a shrub with prickly
stems. With caution and only occasionally was the wild rose used as a food. The
plant was used to treat diarrhea and stomach problems. It was also used to make
an eyewash for eye sores. Vapor from the boiling plant parts was used to treat
bleeding noses, tonsillitis and sore throats. Additionally, the plant was used
to keep evil spirits away.
WORMWOOD SAGE [Artemisia ludiviciana
Nutt] was used by the men for smudging. Smudging is the burning of incense to
cleanse or to ward off evil spirits. The use of the smudging is dependent on the
user. Sage was often used on ceremonial occasions. The plant was used as a paint
brush, a paint remover, a material to make wreaths, and as an incense. Sage tea
was also used for a medicine to treat colds, high fevers, and menstrual irregularity.
A solution was also made with sage to dry up sores, eczema, foot perspiration,
and foot odor. Additionally, a solution made with boiled sage was applied and
massaged to sore areas to reduce swelling. Sage was made into a snuff to treat
sinuses, nose bleeds, and headaches.
YELLOWBELLS [Fritillaria pudica]
are a flower. The corms of this plant were used as a vegetable. It was boiled
and often mixed with corms of the bitterroot.
YARROW [Achillea millefolium]
is a flower. It was used to stop bleeding, relieve toothaches, cure fevers and
colds. Also Native Americans made a poultice with yarrow that was put on burns,
boils, and sores.
YUCCA [Yucca angustissima] plants had a variety
of uses. The roots were used to make a shampoo soap. The pods were eaten when
they were young >and tender. The flowers were used in salads.
From: Hart,
Jeff. Montana-Native Plants and Early People. Helena, MT: Montana Historical
Society, 1976.; Strickler, Dee. Prairie Wildflowers. Columbia Falls, MT:
The Flower Press, 1986.; Duft, Joseph F. and Moseley, Robert K., Alpine Wildflowers
of the Rocky Mountains. Missoula, MT: Montana Press Publishing Comp.,1989.
; Rydberg,Per Axel, PH.D. Flora of the Prairies and Plains of Central North
America (in two volumes). New York: Dover Publications, Inc.,1971.
SCIENCE
SCIENCE
Welcome to the 6th Station: Archeological Excavation
What
does it mean to excavate?
Since the 1930s, scientists have explored
different methods of dating, or radio-carbon dating, to help establish the chronology
of various archeological sites in history. The field methods, such as establishing
levels in which various sites were occupied, were controlled enough in the past
to create a very good chronology.
Archeologist Stephen Aaberg notes that
researcher William Malloy's chronology at Pictograph Cave is still viewed as part
of the groundwork for chronological interpretation today. Field methods of the
30's were focused on extracting artifacts, usually larger artifacts. Screen sizes
were a 1/4 inch or more and smaller bone pieces, flakes and other items probably
fell through the screens and into the spoil piles.
The major difference today,
in terms of archeological work, is a shift from finding large artifacts and establishing
chronology to looking at the paleo-environmental setting in which people lived.
That is, nowadays, we are interested in establishing the environmental context
in which people lived. As in other disciplines, the focus has shifted from trying
to determine the importance of the societal leaders to establishing the lifestyles
and day-to-day activity of the average/common person. The archeology of today
has different tools to work with, such as soil analysis, paleo-environmental reconstruction,
DNA analysis, pollen samples, bone wear analysis, radio-carbon dating, and extensive
lab time to examine materials recovered from a site. Each of these new tools helps
establish the environmental context in which people of the past lived.
In
terms of the modern, social aspects of archeology, more women are making careers
in the science. There is also a concerted effort to investigate the Indian interpretation
of archeological sites and artifacts. Researches have generally used ethnographic
writings in establishing the story being told at a site, but now a more direct
Native American consultation is becoming part of normal archeological procedures.
From an interview
with Kevin Kooistra-Manning, Community Historian, Western Heritage Center, Billings,
MT
Excavate means dig!
Notice how the root of the word "cave" (c-a-v) sits right in the middle of the
word "excavate." Digging, or excavating, is one of the many ways that Archeologists
(ARK-e-oll-o-jists) learn about how people lived long ago. Today, archeologists
also use many other methods, such as Carbon-14 dating, DNA analysis, counting
the annual rings in wood, electron microscopes and pollen grain analysis.
Around
60 years ago, when archeologists started digging at Pictograph Cave, their main
tools were shovels. Archeologists search for artifacts, which could be almost
any item left behind by people. When we think of artifacts, we usually think of
arrow and spear points. There are many other kinds of artifacts, however, including
decorated shells, arrow shafts, pottery, simple footwear, bones of game animals
broken open for marrow or carved upon, and stone tools such as stone hammers.
Although foods quickly decomposed, bones, seeds and shells give us important clues
about ancient people's diets.
Artifacts themselves are important to discovering
the mysteries of the past, but even more important in where the artifacts are
found and what they are near. The shape of certain artifacts, particularly stone
points tell us a lot about how old they are. The earliest points were crudely
chipped from larger pieces of rock. Their design was kind of rough, and they tended
to be larger. As people continued to make arrow points over the years, they discovered
better methods and became better craftsmen. Later points were smaller, finer,
and had better notches for attachment. The first step for an archeologist is to
find a site where ancient people may have lived. Before digging starts, archeologists
draw a map of the site. They then set up a surveying instrument called a transit.
With the transit, they set up a series of squares called a grid. As they dig down,
each square is carefully dug down to the same depth that it is wide (for example,
a grid of 2 meters by 2 meters would also be dug 2 meters deep.) The pit that
is created is called a unit.
Everything that is found at the site is recorded
by which unit it was found in. Soil removed from a unit is placed one shovel full
at a time onto a screen, which is made up of little squares of wire mesh. Soil
is carefully brushed around on the screen. Eventually the fine particles of soil
fall through the screen, and what is left are rocks and artifacts.
As archeologists
excavate a site, they photograph or draw soil changes and artifacts as they are
uncovered. They try to study artifacts in the context that they are found. An
archeologist can learn far more about a group of people when they can analyze
a collection of artifacts found together, rather than a single artifact with no
known context.
At Pictograph Cave, artifacts were found in four distinct layers.
The lowest layer was the oldest. As more rock fell from the cave ceiling onto
the cave floor, the oldest artifacts were buried. The next layer up was a little
more recent, and the top layer was the most recent.
Why
didn't they dig up everything?
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Where
are all of the artifacts today?
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Why
was digging in Pictograph Cave important to all scientists?
Although
people had always known about the pictographs, it was not until 1937 that archeologists
realized the significance of the Cave. As they began excavation, they found four
distinct layers of occupation. This meant that over a long period of time different
people had occupied the Cave. One group of people would use the cave, and the
things that they had dropped or discarded when they left were covered by dirt
and rocks falling from the ceiling and walls of the cave. Then, more people would
come, and eventually as they left, debris covered their items. This happened four
times, according to archeologists.
In the 1930s and '40s, archeologists were
discovering all kinds of sites similar to Pictograph Cave in Wyoming, North Dakota,
Canada and other places, but they had no idea how old these sites were. This was
also the time before scientists discovered Carbon 14 dating which today gives
us the relatively precise age of an item. Archeologists had to use other methods.
By comparing various artifacts, they began to learn how one site could help them
learn about another.
Pictograph Cave helped archeologists learn about many
other sites. As the archeologists dug at Pictograph Cave, it became apparent that
the artifacts that they uncovered the furthest down were the oldest. They also
knew that everything that was lying in about the same area was about the same
age. Therefore, if they found an item, such as a tool or piece of clothing, in
Wyoming that was similar to one found at Pictograph Cave they could assume that
it was about the same age.
Pictograph Cave was important because it especially
offered archeologists the opportunity to compare the ages of all these sites throughout
the Northern Great Plains. It became the benchmark. It was designated a National
Historic Landmark because of its contribution to Northern Great Plains archeology.
This designation came about through the efforts of former Billings, Montana mayor
Willard Fraser and The Indian Cave Commission which administered the area until
the Montana State Parks Division took over the site 1969. From: Ken Oravsky Tour
Content ; Montana Fish Wildlife and
Parks, Pictograph Cave State Park Trail Guide, 1997.
What
other dwellings did workers find?
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SCIENCE
Welcome to the 7th Station: Preserving the Past: A Visit with Claire Dean
What
is vandalism?
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Why
are pictographs not considered graffiti?
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on this question right now
What
can we do to save the caves?
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What does an archeological
conservator do?
An archeological
conservator is somebody who takes care of things that an archeologist finds. There
are other types of conservators, like people who take care of old paintings or
old books. All of these people are trying to save these precious items for all
of us to share.
An
archeological conservator is somebody who takes care of things that an archaeologist
finds. There are other types of conservators. Other conservators take care of
oil paintings, or old books, for example. All conservators study science, math
and art in school. Ms. Dean is one of the very few conservators that come to work
at pictograph and petroglyph sites like the Pictograph Caves. She said she loves
her job for many reasons but part of it is because she gets to work with both
science and art. She said that in her job she gets to work with many scientists
to help solve the problems that accompany preserving the past for future generations.
From:
An interview with J. Claire Dean
Would
you like to be an archeologist?
All
of you know that there are lots of men and women who have jobs as doctors and
archeologists, science teachers, chemists, computer engineers, and people who
work in industry. But, not everyone believes they can do these jobs. I believe
you can!
Young
women know that there are women who work in all sorts of science based jobs today:
doctors, archeologists, science teachers, chemistry, computers, engineers, and
industry. But I think many young women today don't always have enough belief in
their own ability to succeed. That's a fear many people have when they try something
new. I think young people need to be exposed to role models, so that they get
to meet women and men who do these jobs. From:
An interview with J. Claire Dean