Accession Number:

ADA151998

Title:

Kootenai Canyon Archaeology. The 1979 LAURD (Libby Additional Units and Reregulating Dam) Project.

Descriptive Note:

Final mitigation rept.,

Corporate Author:

MONTANA STATE UNIV BOZEMAN DEPT OF SOCIOLOGY

Personal Author(s):

• Roll,T. E.

Report Date:

1982-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

151.0

Abstract:

The 1979, Libby Additional Units and Reregulating Dam LAURD cultural resources project was designed to excavate archaeological sites endangered by proposed dam construction. The project area is located in the narrow V shaped canyon of the mid-Kootenai River region of northwestern Montana. This transmontane setting resulted in an aboribinal subsistance adaptation that reflected the comparative absence of staple resources such as camas, anadromous fish, caribou and bison that prevailed in surrounding areas. The native people of the mid-Kootenai emphasized exploitation of deer during periods of seasonal abundance. Populations concentrated in the river bottoms late winter-early spring and dispersed at other times. Correlation of the geological and palynological records with available radiocarbon dates and typological cross-dating with established projectile point chronologies from adjacent areas suggest the presence of six sequent phases in the floodplain setting of the LAURD project area. Despite climatic and vegetative changes, the subsistance systems of the last 6000 years appear essentially similar. The versatility of the preferred prey species was sufficient to dampen the effects of the indicated climatic-vegetative changes. The diverse topography of the mid-Kootenai River region would provide habitat similar to that available today but at different elevations or in different exposures.

Descriptors:

• *ARCHEOLOGY
• SITES
• HISTORY
• SAMPLING
• RESERVOIRS
• MONTANA
• DAMS
• AMERICAN INDIANS
• CANYONS

Subject Categories:

• Humanities and History

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE