Appraisal of the Archeological and Paleontological Resources of the Gavins Point Reservoir, Nebraska and South Dakota

This report is a summary of the results of an archeological reconnaissance conducted in the area which will be inundated by the water to be impounded by the Gavin Point Dam. It has been prepared for, and at the request of, the River Basin Recreation Survey, Region Two Office, National Park Service, in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding between the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service, approved October 9, 1945. The reconnaissance was made during September 1951 by Franklin Fenenga archeologist with the Missouri Basin Project and W. Raymond Wood, field assistant. The Paleontological survey was made in May 1952 by Dr. Theodore E. White, paleontologist, Missouri Basin Project. The archeological investigation consisted of exploration of the terrain and inspection of previously recorded data on file at the Museum of the University of South Dakota and at the Laboratory of Anthropology of the University of Nebraska.

The Gavins Point Reservoir, so long as it is confined to the old flood channel of the Missouri River will cause no loss to paleontology or archeology. If engineering activity connected with the dam and road building will endanger the areas indicated as being of interest, specific recommendations for salvage operations in these areas will have to be made.