Archeological Progress Report No. 7, Field Season of 1962

This is a brief summary of field work and a preliminary statement of results for the seventeenth consecutive summer field season of the Missouri Basin Project. In the past this progress report has elicited many constructive comments. We hope that it will continue to do so - but there is also an additional purpose. As the result of a number of circumstances, excavation has far out-shipped the publication of results. Of course, such a lag is often inevitable, however as a stop-gap, this summary is intended to keep interested persons abreast of current work and to provide at least a minimum of description and analysis. In sharp contrast to the past several years, appropriated funds, available for field work within the Missouri Basin, were significantly increased. In addition the National Science Foundation provided substantial support for a continuation of research begun in 1961. These funds provided for labor and field expenses of three field parties. Salary of the party chief, cost of Laboratory facilities, tools and other necessary materials were borne by regularly appropriated funds. The construction programs of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and other federal agencies are moving ahead rapidly so that, despite a substantial increase in funds, the Smithsonian Institution and cooperating agencies have been hard pressed to meet their salvage obligations. Not only is there much work remaining to be done in the reservoirs of the Missouri mainstream, but an increasing number of projects on tributary streams are demanding attention. Nor is this the only concern. The much needed increase in appropriated funds has not solved all of our problems. On the contrary, it has brought new concerns, not the least of which is the problem of personnel. Competent archeologists are at a premium so that Missouri Basin personnel has been thinly spread. In some cases it has been necessary for the archeologists to direct two field parties concurrently. This has proven to be relatively efficient, assuming first-rate assistants, but many adjustments must be made.