Analysis of Prehistoric Land Use Patterns in the Tongue River Valley, North of Decker, Montana
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1997 Analysis of prehistoric land use patterns in the Tongue River Valley, north of Decker, Montana Glenn A. Walter The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Walter, Glenn A., "Analysis of prehistoric land use patterns in the Tongue River Valley, north of Decker, Montana" (1997). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 1540. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1540 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University of IVIONTANA Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published ^vorks and reports. ** Please check "Yes" or "No" and provide signature Yes, I grant permission No, I do not grant permission Author's Signature Date ie Çpl. im Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. AN ANALYSIS OF PREHISTORIC LAND USE PATTERNS IN THE TONGUE RIVER VALLEY. NORTH OF DECKER, MONTANA by Glenn A. Walter B.A. The University of Montana, 1992 presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts The University of Montana 1996 Appôved b y Chairperson Dean, Graduate School Date UMI Number: EP36188 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL U SERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT UMI E P36188 Published by ProQuest LLC (2012). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 Walter, Glenn A., M A , May, 1&96 Anthropology An Analysis of Prehistoric Land Use Patterns in the Tongue River Valley, North of Decker^ Montana (201 pp.) Chair: Dr. Thomas A. Poor Beginning in the early tOTO's and continuing into the mid-1980's, cultural resourcæ (CR> inventories were omducted north of Decker, MT in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Surveys evaluated the adverse affects of coal mining in the area, and have created an extensive data base of archaeological sites. This research is a synthetic analysis of prehistoric site patterning over an 82 knf region of southeast Montana, using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and data base compiled from the OR inventory reports. The research was accomplished in two steps involving both 'manual' and 'automated" data capture. In step one, I compiled archaeological site and environmental data from the inventory reporte, site forrr», and environmental impact statements prepared for the study area. Docxjmente were acquired from the State Historic Preservation Office, located In Helena, MT, the University of Montana's Archaeological Records Office, and Historical Research Associates of Missoula, MT. Archaeological site locations were plotted on 7.5' topographic quadrangles. As each site was plotted, ertifacte and features recorded at the locations were entered on a data form used to classify site types. Step two involved 'automated' data capture and merging of site locations with environmental values using the GIS constructed for the analysis. Site locations were digitized from the base maps and associated with the values of slope, aspect, and distence to nearest water. Environmental values for each location were extracted from land surface images created using the GIS program IDRISI. Distributions of archaeological sites and site types were then analyzed with the SPSS statistical program. The analysis was designed to investigate the environmental characteristics preferred by prehistoric peoples. Cultural resource surveys are usually conducted with preconceived ideas of where archaeological sites will be found. Using variables such as slope, aspect and distance to water, specific areas are classified as having either a high or low probability of containing archaeological sites. As a result, north of Decker, MT., the same areas had to be surveyed more than once. Examination of site distribution on a regional scale using a GIS demonstrates a mistaken faith in long standing beliete about archaeological site patterning. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. Chapter One (Introduction) ......................................................... 1 Surfàce Features and Drainages ..................................... 2 Clim ate....................................................................................... 3 G eology ..................................................................................... 5 Vegetation .................. ........................................... 8 Prehistory ................................................................................... 10 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) .................................13 Chapter Two (Metiiodology) ..... 17 'Manual' Date Capture » .......................... 17 "Automated' Date C apture.................................................. 23 Chapter Three (Analysis)......................................................................29 Chi-Square Test ................... 29 Vector Method/Raleigh T est ................................................... 35 Correlation Between Variables (Pearson's (r) and (t) T e ste ..........................................37 ^^r^îss ^^alïulsrti^jn .............u...................................... 3^) Chapter Four (Résulte and Conclusions) ................................ 41 Results Chi-Square Test Results ............................................. 41 Vector Method/Raleigh T est ............................. »... 46 Correlation Between Variables ................................... 48 Conclusions » ....................................................................... 56 References Cited ................................................................................. 62 m UST OF APPENDICES Page No. Appendix A Artifact and Feature Data Form ........... 66 Appendix B Landscape Variable Values ................. 96 Appendix 0 IDRISI Image Histories .......................... 109 Appendix D Site Type Summary Statistics ..............» 133 Appendix E Cross-Tabulation Data Variable Categories ........ 188 IV UST OF FIGURES Page No. Figure 1 List of Inventory Reports ...................... 18 Figure 2 Site Type Frequency and Proportion of Sample .............................. 21 Figure 3 Illustration of Value Extraction Using IDRISI Modules ............................. 27 Figure 4 Slope (Degrees) Expected / Observed Frequency ........... 31 Figure 5 Distance to Water (Meters) &q>ected / O bservé Frequency ........... 32 Figure 6 Chi-Square Test Results ...................................... 42 Figure 7 Summary of Correlation Coefficients .................. 50 Figure 8 Summary of (Q Test Results .......................... 51 Figure 9 Cross-Tabulation Table: Slope vs. Aspect (All Arch Sites) ....... 52 Figure 10 Cross-Tabulation Table: Slope vs. Aspect (Chipping Stations) 53 Figure 11 Cross-Tatnrlation Table: Distance to Water vs. Slope (All Arch Sites) .................................55 Figure 12 Cross-Tabulation Table: Distance to Water vs. Slope ................... 57 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank all of the people and organizations which made this research possible. First the Montana State HistoricPreservation Office in Helena, MT and Archaeological Records Office in Missoula, MT for allowing me free access to the Cultural Resource Inventory reports and site files that provided the data base I worked with. I also would like to thank the Montana Archaeological Society, for giving me the Linda Ward-Witlians Scholarship, rraking rr^ final sem ester at the University of Montana possible. My committee Dr. Thomas Poor, Dr. John Douglas, and Dr John Donahue aisoxleserve a great deal of credit; for tolerating n ^ many questions and graciously offering their individual e)q>ertise. Most of all I would like to thank my wife, Jennifer, who had the hardest job of all, and never wavered in her support. VI CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION This research will synthesize archaeological data recorded during cultural resource surveys conducted in southeastern Montana. By using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to gather and sort data compiled from nine inventory reports, this research analyzes archaeological site distributions over a large region (82 km*). Southeastern Montana lies in the northern portion of the Great Plains physiographic region (Frison 1978). The study area, located northwest of Decker, Montana, includes large portions of Townships 8 and 9 South, Ranges 39,40, and 41 East. Boundaries of coal mine permits define the area were the best sample of archaeological sites is recorded.