The Effects of Erosion on Archaeological Sites along the Upper Oahe Reservoir, South Dakota

Abstract

Shoreline erosion of archaeological sites along Lake Oahe, North and South Dakota since the late 1960s has resulted in substantial destruction to many significant and potentially National Register eligible archaeological sites. Using aerial photographs dating to the late-1930s, site maps, and recent aerial photographs, we document the effects of erosion at three major village sites located in the Northern Cannonball region of South Dakota. As a result of a prolonged drought, erosion of archaeological sites has been minimal since the late 1990s. When the current drought cycle ends, erosion will likely resume at pre-drought rates of 3 to 5 meters per year.