Appraisal of the Archeological and Paleontological Resources of the Jefferson River Basin, Montana

This report has been prepared by the Missouri River Basin Survey, Smithsonian Institution, 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. It is an evaluation of the character and the quantity of archeological and paleontological remains discovered during preliminary reconnaissance of five reservoir sites in the Jefferson River Basin. The archeological reconnaissance was conducted by a two-man field party led by Robert L. Shalkop,
archeologist with the Missouri River Basin Survey, during the period July 17 - 29, 1950; the paleontological survey was accomplished in 1947 by Theodore E. White,, paleontologist. The reservoir sites explored were Apex, Brenner, Clark Canyon, Kelley, and Landon, all of which are in the upper Jefferson River drainage in southwestern Montana.
Evidences of aboriginal occupation were located by exploration and by Iocal inquiry, Investigation included surface examination of sites, test pitting in promising localities, and inspection of previously collected specimens. Field notes were recorded on standard survey forms and a photographic record was made of sites, site features, and artifacts. In early historic times, the area in which these five reservoirs are located was the hunting and gathering territory of various small
bands of Shoshoni Indians, and it was presumably occupied in earlier times. The only previous study of archaeological remains in the general- area was briefly reported upon recently.The subject of that study was a tipi ring site on the Big Hole River some distance to the northwest of the specific area considered in this appraisal.