University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1974 Survey and synthesis of archaeological sites within the sub-alpine ecological zone, Pryor Mountains, Montana Kent N. Good 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 Good, Kent N., "Survey and synthesis of archaeological sites within the sub-alpine ecological zone, Pryor Mountains, Montana" (1974). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 3790. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/3790 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]. A SURVEY AMD SYNTHESIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WITHIN THE SUB-ALPINE ECOLOGICAL-EGra., PRYOR MOUNTAINS, MONTANA by Kent Nolan Good B.A. University of Montana 1969 Presented in partial fulfillment of tLe requircnont: for the degree of Master of Arts 1974 Chairman, Board Lxamine;rs lO O UMI Number: EP36165 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS 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. UMI OisB«rtatk>n PUUishing UMI EP36165 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 uesf ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 4 8 1 0 6 - 1346 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It would be a difficult task to thank all those who helped make this work possible. There are many people in the background whose names are not mentioned, but without their support its completion would not have been possible. Foremost on the list of those to whom I am indebted is Dr. Lawrence L. Loendorf. It was Larry who first showed an interest in me and encouraged my interest in archaeology. His insistence, support, friend­ ship, and professional advice made the completion of the work a reality. I cannot thank him enough. Next I would like to thank the members of my graduate committee. Professors Dee C. Taylor (Chairman), Frank B. Bessac, and James H. Polsin, for their professional criticism. Without these people I woul] not have reached this point. Among the eleven members of the 1971 survey crew, I would especially like to thank Tom Haberraan and Steve Gentzler who helped make the project a success. The National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Forest Service supported the research for the summer during which the research for this work was accomplished. Indirectly t].rough i l ^:ndorf I would like to thank them for their support. Last, but not least, I would like to thank Cynthia Westfall for her artistic ability; he'' sketches of artifacts are surpassed by none, Tliank you all. lii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................... il LIST OF T A B L E S ........................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................... vit Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ........................ 1 Area Defined ..... ....................................... 1 Previous Archaeological Work Within the Pryor Mountain Area . 4 II. PHYSICAL SETTING OF THE PRYOR MOUITTAINS........................ 7 Introduction , . 7 Climate of the Pryor Mountains .............................. u Geology of the Pryor Mountains .............................. 14 Pleistocene Chronology of the Pryor Mountains ............... 21 Flora and Fauna of the Pryor Mountain Sub-Alpine Zone .... 23 Animal Spéciation and Their Utilization of the Sub-Alpine Z o n e ........................................................ 26 Summary ............................................... 36 III. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE SUB-ALPINE Z O N E .................... 37 Introduction .......... .......................... 37 Big Springs 24CB777 ........................................... 37 Commissary Ridge Bison Kill 24CB863 ..... ............... 54 Dry Head Overlook Bison Drive 24CB833 .... ............... 60 Timber Town 24CB776 ................................ ..... 62 Scick City 24CB894 74 Signal Fire Site 2^CB893 ......... ................. 83 Virgin Springs 24CB739 87 Independence Site 24CB740 ................... 90 Site 475 24CB475 94 Vision Quest Sites ........................................... 96 IV. MATERJAL CULTURE— ARTIFACT TYPOLOGY . ........................ 99 Artifact Typology ............................................. 99 iv Site Summary ................................................. 131 V. S U M M A R Y ........................................................ 134 Introduction .................................................. 134 Conclusions .................................................... 153 REFERENCES CITED ...................................................... 159 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Climatological Information Chart .......................... 11 2. Stratigraphie Nomenclature Chart .......................... 16 3. Stratigraphie Formations in the Pryor Mountains ......... 17 4. Vegetation of the Sub-Alpine Z o n e ................. 27 5. Birds of the Sub-Alpine Z o n e .............................. 31 6. Mammals of the Sub-Alpine Z o n e ............ ... 34 7. Dimensions of Logs Used in Signal Fire Construetion . 85 8. High Elevation Survey Comparison Chart ................ 155 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Pryor Mountain Location ................................ 3 2. Pryor Mountains . ................................. ..... 20 3. Map of Big Springs ......................................... 39 4. Profile of Excavation (24CB777) ............................ 42 5. Map of Commissary Ridge Bison K i l l .................... 56 6. Map of Commissary Ridge Bison Kill Excavation .............. 57 7. Map of Timber T o w n ................. ... .................... 64 8. Outline Map of Timber T o w n .............................. 66 9. Map of Stick C i t y ........................................... 75 10. Outline Map of Stick City Structures........... 78 11. Map of Signal Fire S i t e ................. 84 12. Map of Typical Vision Quest (24CB881) . ................... 97 13. Choppers (24CB777) 101 14. Projectile Points .......... .................................103 15. Projectile Points ...................................... ..... 113 16. Blanks and/or Preforms (24CB777)............. 119 17. Blanks and/or Preforms (24CB777) ........... .... 120 18. Type I Knives (24CB777)................................ 122 19. Type II Knives (24CB777 a-c, e-f) (24CB863 d) ...... 123 vii Figure Page 20. End Scrapers (24CB777)....................................... 125 21. An Abrader and Drills (24CB777) 127 22. An Edge Ground Cobble (24CB777) ............................ 129 23. Edge Ground Cobbles (24CB777) 130 viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Area Defined The area of study with which I was concerned for my thesis study is geographically located approximately 35 miles south of Billings, Montana. The Pryor Mountain complex lies on an East-West axis and is approximately 15 miles wide and 25 miles long. Although the mountain range is found primarily in Montana it slopes downward toward the south into Wyoming. The Pryor Mountains are made up of five ecological zones wliich are a function of altitude: one, dry-lands (semi-desert); two, grasslands; three, juniper breaks; four, conifer forest; and five, sub-alpine. Although much archaeological research has been accomplished in four of the five zones, little research has been accomplished in the sub-alpine zone. My area of study, the sub-alpine zone, is located on or near the top of the mountains at a maximum elevation of 8,400 feet. The area was chosen for study for the following reasons: 1. Since most of the Pryor area will become a national recreation area it is important to gain as much archaeological knowledge of the area as possible before it is vandalized. 2. It is important to understand the sub-alpine zone so the occupation within the area can be correlated with occupations of other zones, thus making possible a better understanding of the movements of people in the Pryor Mountains and their exploitation of available resources. 3. The. sub-alpine zone may have played an important role in trie survival of pre-historic people during an Altitheirmal period, thus it is important to investigate the incidence of sites associated with the Middle Pre-Historic Period. Acting as field supervisor during the 19 70 and 19 71 seasons for the Pryor Mountain Archaeological Survey Team, I conducted a survey and excavation of sites within the sub-alpine zone. The information gathered during these two seasons and subsequent research is the basic for this thesis. One problem developing out of the project was for me to reconstruct the lifeway of the people who utilized the sub-alpine zone during the summer months. This construction involved my making assessment of archaeological sites and a synthesis of the cultural data that