THE ARCHEOLOGY OF MUMMY CAVE, WYOMING: AN INTRODUCTION TO SHOSHONEAN PREHISTORY By Wilfred M. Husted and Robert Edgar National Park Service Midwest Archeological Center and Southeast Archeological Center Special Report No. 4 Technical Reports Series No. 9 The Archeology of Mummy Cave, Wyoming: An Introduction to Shoshonean Prehistory By Wilfred M. Husted and Robert Edgar Midwest Archeological Center Special Report No. 4 and Southeast Archeological Center Technical Reports Series No. 9 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Midwest Archeological Center Lincoln, Nebraska 2002 This volume is a joint production of the Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Southeast Archeological Center, Tallahassee, Florida. Published with the cooperation of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming. This report has been reviewed against the criteria contained in 43CFR Part 7, Subpart A, Section 7.18 (a) (1) and, upon recommendation of the Midwest Regional Office and the Midwest Archeological Center, has been classified as Available Making the report available meets the criteria of 43CFR Part 7, Subpart A, Section 7.18 (a) (1). Dedication The Mummy Cave report is dedicated to the memory of my father Wilfred Blew Husted, who passed away in Bridgeton, New Jersey, January 15, 1945, at the age of 45 years, and to my mother Irene Husted Picht nee McAllister, who passed away in Lincoln, Nebraska, August 18, 2000, at the age of 95 years. Wilfred M. Husted Billings, Montana June 2001 i Acknowledgments Robert Edgar participated in the excavation of Mummy Cave from the beginning, acting as field su- pervisor from 1963 through 1965 and assistant in 1966 when I joined the project as supervisor. Although having no formal training in archeology, Edgar carried out the work in a most creditable manner, and by 1966, had become a very competent excavator. His aid during the final season on the site was invaluable, and his intimate knowledge of the surface archeology of the region added much to our daily discussions on the significance of the materials excavated earlier and being recovered at the time. Although written in the first person, this report is as much Edgar’s as it is mine. His thoughts and ideas have been considered, he provided the descriptions of many of the artifacts, especially those for the bone and wooden objects, and he drew the profiles of the deposits. However, as senior author, errors of commission and omission are mine, and I am solely responsible for the interpretations herein. The hypotheses to be offered here were developed in great part by Oscar L. Mallory of the River Ba- sin Surveys, Smithsonian Institution and myself before I joined the Mummy Cave Project. The findings at Mummy Cave necessitated some modification of these models and provided evidence for extending them beyond their original limits. Mallory contributed in full measure to the further development of the hy- potheses. Hence, he has played a significant role in the production of this report. His criticisms and sug- gestions offered during our many discussions and his patience with my innumerable interruptions to talk over various matters of interpretation are gratefully acknowledged. Mallory also identified the plant fibers used to make the cordage and basketry. I wish here to offer my thanks to Warren W. Caldwell, Director of the River Basin Surveys. His con- tributions are many and varied ranging from constructive criticism to encouragement. Throughout the en- tire period of my association with the Mummy Cave project he made himself available for assistance, in whatever form was necessary and whenever it was sought. He participated actively with Mallory and me in many discussions of the hypotheses and interpretations. As my supervisor, he was most understanding and encouraging during the all too frequent periods when discouragement and doubt made the completion of this report seem an impossible goal. Mere thanks are a mean reward, but I find myself unable to ade- quately express my heartfelt gratitude to Warren for his aid and generosity. It is with fond affection that I acknowledge the kindness and generosity of Robert Edgar and his wife Terry. They offered their friendship and opened their home to me, and I will long remember the many fine meals and pleasant evenings spent with them at their cabin bathed in an aura of the west in another century. To Robert Pardun and Wayne Winter, crew members during the final season at Mummy Cave, I offer thanks for a job well done. Their enthusiasm and good humor were unbounded making the summer of 1966 one of pleasant memories. Their competence and keen awareness made my job a simple one, and their limitless good humor and lively banter made many a long, hot day more bearable. A debt of gratitude is owed several members of the staff of the River Basin Surveys, for without their assistance and patience, this report could not have been completed. My sincere thanks go to Edgar W. Dodd, Clarence W. Johnson, and Lee G. Madison who prepared the specimens for study; to Jerry L. Livingston, scientific illustrator, who prepared the figures and lettered the plates; to Wayne L. Nelson, photographer, who photographed the specimens and produced prints for the plates; to Mrs. Willene D. Miller, Miss Linda R. Wilcox, Miss Joyce B. Williams, and especially Mrs. Janice R. Westfall, typists, who struggled valiantly with my hand written drafts and many additions to produce the final product; and to Mrs. Paulette C. Workman for her assistance in making the plates. Dr. Joseph P. E. Morrison, Assistant Curator, Division of Mollusks, United States National Museum, provided identifications for the shells from the site. With affection and gratitude I wish to acknowledge the moral support of my wife Beth, a non- archeologist, but a pillar of strength and uncomplaining summer widow. Her sympathetic understanding during the several periods of discouragement with the direction and progress of this report and her ability to soothe and comfort when all seemed for naught are gratefully acknowledged. W. M. H. ii Contents Dedication .....................................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................iv List of Tables ...............................................................................................................................................iv Foreword Thomas A. Foor ...................................................................................................................v Preface Mummy Cave: Retrospect and Prospect ............................................................................ix Chapter I: Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Chapter II: The Geology of Mummy Cave ............................................................................................7 John H. Moss Chapter III: Pollen Analyses at Mummy Cave and Nearby Areas, Northwestern Wyoming ...............13 H. E. Wright, Jr. Chapter IV: Stratigraphy ........................................................................................................................19 Chapter V: Radiocarbon Dates .............................................................................................................23 Chapter VI: Climatic Considerations .....................................................................................................29 Chapter VII: Excavation Techniques ......................................................................................................31 Chapter VIII: The Evidence .....................................................................................................................35 Chapter IX: Comparisons ......................................................................................................................95 Chapter X: Interpretations ..................................................................................................................113 Chapter XI: The Great Basin and Birch Creek Valley As Seen From Northwestern Wyoming .........133 Chapter XII: Western American Archeology and Language: A Hypothesis ........................................141 References Cited .......................................................................................................................................147 Appendix: The Mummy Cave Tetrapods ................................................................................................163 Arthur H. Harris Plates .......................................................................................................................................................171 iii Figures 1. Mummy Cave locality and environs ....................................................................................................xii 2. North-south profile of the deposits along the East 0 gridline .............................................................. 20 3. East-west profile of the deposits along the North 30 gridline ............................................................. 21 4. Floor plan of Mummy Cave ...............................................................................................................