Ecological Characterization as a Foundation for Prediction of Plains Village Tradition Site Locations in Central South Dakota

Abstract

Upland Plains Village archaeological sites in Central South Dakota located by pedestrian survey were described in terms of physiography and vegetation. Randomly selected, non-archaeological sites were similarly described and served to define the universe of sites available for habitation along the east bank of the Missouri River/Lake Francis Case Reservoir. Physiographic differences between actual and “simulated” archaeological sites suggested that several factors were important in predicting the location of upland archaeological sites. These included location in Agropyron smithii dominated plant communities with less than 5° of slope, and southern exposure. The model accounts for nearly 70 per cent of all variability associated with location and distribution of archaeological sites.