University of Montana
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University of Montana News Releases
University Relations
6-9-1968
University of Montana survey team may unearth
evidence of prehistoric man
University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations
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Recommended Citation
University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations, "University of Montana survey team may unearth evidence of
prehistoric man" (1968). University of Montana News Releases. 3738.
http://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases/3738
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INFORMATION SERVICES
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
MISSOULA, MONTANA 59801
Phone (406) 243-2522
FOR RELEASE JUNE 9 OR THEREAFTER
sale/dm
6-7-68
state
UM SURVEY TEAM
MAY UNEARTH EVIDENCE
OF PREHISTORIC MAN
By Dennis Sale
UM Information Services
MISSOULA—
South Central Montana, for years a storehouse for artifacts dating back thousands
of years, may this summer provide evidence of man as he lived 10,000 or more years ago.
Two of the latest archeological survey sites discovered in the state are located
south and west of the Pryor Mountains, which lie 40 miles south of Billings.
Under a $10,500 federal grant, and cash equivalent of $3,750 from the University of
Montana, a UM archeological survey team led by Lawrence L. Loendorf, UM arthropology
instructor who is project director and principal investigator in the survey, and Dr.
Dee C. Taylor, UM anthropology professor, will study the two sites for 10 weeks beginning
June 10.
The survey team also includes seven graduate and undergraduate anthropology students
who will do much of the digging and scraping necessary to remove valuable artifacts in
tact.
First field camp for the survey team will be at Gyp Springs, 10 miles south of
Warren, near the Wyoming border.
Beginning June 10 the surveyors will live there in
trailers and tents for five weeks or until they complete the survey work.
Next stop will
Sage Canyon, 20 miles southeast of Bridger, where they will continue their investigations.
The archeological excursion is slated for completion about Aug. 15.
Loendorf said he already has found at one of the sites a stone scraper that may,
under scientific study, prove to be 9,000 or more years old.
more
UM ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY TEAM--2
During a preliminary survey of the sites this spring, Loendorf, who holds a
master’s degree in anthropology from UM, found several arrowheads, other projectile
points and stone scrapers lying on the ground at the sites.
These items date back 150 or
more years and are considered ’’present-day" artifacts compared with older remnants of
man, Loendorf said.
Concerning the two survey sites, Loendorf said, "Our job is to locate any indication
of prehistoric occupation and record such information.
The better archeological sites in
the Pryor Mountain Recreation Area will be developed as visitor centers by the government."
Loendorf said the recreation area is known to have been occupied in historical times
by the Crow, Shoshoni, I^yckfoot and Cheyenne Indian tribes.
He said evidence indicates
the area was occupied by hunting and gathering peoples as far back as 10,000 years.
Federal agifncies involved in the survey project include the National Park Service,
the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
UM anthropolpgy students who will assist at the archeological encampments include
Linda Catherine Ward, Hysham; Burton D. Williams, Malta; Dale E. Fredlund, Eureka, form­
erly of Cook,Minn.; Donald A. Dodge, Missoula; Bonnie Jean Herda, Chinook, and Lyle Lynn
O' Br
, Missoula, formerly of San Angelo, Tex.
Lynn Berry, an anthropology student at the University of Colorado, Boulder, also
will assist in the survey.
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