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Pipeline Work Digs Up Artifacts In Nebraska
Discovered Items May Date Back Up To 2,000 Years, Experts Believe
By Linda Wuebben
P&D Correspondent
HARTINGTON, Neb. — An archeological discovery southwest of Hartington at the beginning of May has had some unusual results.
A pre-construction crew with the Keystone Pipeline project, which originates in Hardesty, Canada, and is currently digging the pipeline route in northeast Nebraska, found evidence of prehistoric artifacts while completing the land survey of the pipeline route, said Jeff Rauh of Keystone.
“We indeed did find artifacts southwest of Hartington,” Rauh said. “The survey crew identified the site and tried several routes around the site but found, at each turn, another area with artifacts.”
He said the archeology company is currently preparing a report for the Nebraska Historical Society.
When planning a route for such a project, Rauh said they try to avoid known sites where artifacts have been uncovered. Information about the site and its area are required to remain confidential and he could not divulge the exact location.
While excavating ground samples for the pipeline route with a backhoe, a grouping of old fire dugouts or pits was uncovered. When the crew spent an unusually long time in one area and uncovered a 300-foot stretch of farm ground instead of the required 100 feet, the landowner asked them what they were doing.
A group of archeological experts was brought in to investigate the site. During a two-week period, they sifted the area with screens, finding small animal bones and other small items that may be arrowheads. The men excavated an area that they believe was a campground and dug 6-8 feet down from the surface.
Alan Osborn, a research assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, believes it is a significant site containing historic Native American artifacts.
“We call finds like these time capsules,” Osborn said. “The dugouts are food pits which early natives stored food, and when its usefulness was finished, the pit was filled with trash.”
He added these finds are valuable as they tell the archeologists about the prehistoric diet the natives followed and their hunting practices. It can show how the prehistoric natives adapted their diet and what animal, fish and plant species they favored.
The artifacts were carefully packed up and sent to a lab for further research. The archeology company will submit a report to the Nebraska State Historical Society.
“Because these projects like the pipeline are federally funded, there is a certain protocol they need to follow,” said Trish Nelson of the Nebraska Historical Society. “Archeological sites are preserved mainly because they are a non-renewable resource.”
Nelson said prehistoric sites are protected and exact locations not disclosed because the historical society wants to prevent vandalism. The sites are noted and usually covered up again. Only in certain cases is there a further excavation of artifacts.
The sites can be used for future research if needed when better, more cost-effective methods may be available.
Normally, if a road or pipeline is planned and a historical site such as this is discovered, the area is excavated. The first option would be to design a different route.
“But the site south of Hartington was too large to negotiate a route around,” said archeologist Terry Steinacker of Nebraska’s Fort Robinson State Park.
He said the area was excavated and the finds are being organized. The on-site archeologists will do a complete report.
Steinacker added that the artifacts, depending on their significance, may be returned to the landowner, who can decide what to do with them.
From a preliminary management report, Steinacker said the site has been identified as a prehistoric site that dates back to the Woodland period — a time before horses and cowboys. This period is set from 1 A.D. to 900 A.D. and it is possible this site is 1,500-2,000 years old. This would be a time before Euro-American occupation in the Midwest.
“This is a fairly old site,” Steinacker said.
Steinacker added it is unfortunate there will not be a way to determine tribal history or relations, but future finds combined with these artifacts could answer many questions about prehistoric times.
Interestingly, the landowner remembered a rock with writing on it was located in a pasture he now owns. Before he purchased the property, the rock was moved to the University in Lincoln and now it sets outside the Elephant Hall at the museum.
Osborn said the rock has petroglyphs on it, which are hand prints that the prehistoric peoples carved out of the rock. The writing either marked a tribal territory or movement across the countryside.
“It is unusual to find these artifacts in the Midwest,” said Osborn. “Unusually they are found in the southwest states like Utah, Nevada and New Mexico.”
The pipeline project is currently on schedule, Rauh said, and the artifact discovery did not slow the progress.
A pre-construction crew with the Keystone Pipeline project, which originates in Hardesty, Canada, and is currently digging the pipeline route in northeast Nebraska, found evidence of prehistoric artifacts while completing the land survey of the pipeline route, said Jeff Rauh of Keystone.
“We indeed did find artifacts southwest of Hartington,” Rauh said. “The survey crew identified the site and tried several routes around the site but found, at each turn, another area with artifacts.”
He said the archeology company is currently preparing a report for the Nebraska Historical Society.
When planning a route for such a project, Rauh said they try to avoid known sites where artifacts have been uncovered. Information about the site and its area are required to remain confidential and he could not divulge the exact location.
While excavating ground samples for the pipeline route with a backhoe, a grouping of old fire dugouts or pits was uncovered. When the crew spent an unusually long time in one area and uncovered a 300-foot stretch of farm ground instead of the required 100 feet, the landowner asked them what they were doing.
A group of archeological experts was brought in to investigate the site. During a two-week period, they sifted the area with screens, finding small animal bones and other small items that may be arrowheads. The men excavated an area that they believe was a campground and dug 6-8 feet down from the surface.
Alan Osborn, a research assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, believes it is a significant site containing historic Native American artifacts.
“We call finds like these time capsules,” Osborn said. “The dugouts are food pits which early natives stored food, and when its usefulness was finished, the pit was filled with trash.”
He added these finds are valuable as they tell the archeologists about the prehistoric diet the natives followed and their hunting practices. It can show how the prehistoric natives adapted their diet and what animal, fish and plant species they favored.
The artifacts were carefully packed up and sent to a lab for further research. The archeology company will submit a report to the Nebraska State Historical Society.
“Because these projects like the pipeline are federally funded, there is a certain protocol they need to follow,” said Trish Nelson of the Nebraska Historical Society. “Archeological sites are preserved mainly because they are a non-renewable resource.”
Nelson said prehistoric sites are protected and exact locations not disclosed because the historical society wants to prevent vandalism. The sites are noted and usually covered up again. Only in certain cases is there a further excavation of artifacts.
The sites can be used for future research if needed when better, more cost-effective methods may be available.
Normally, if a road or pipeline is planned and a historical site such as this is discovered, the area is excavated. The first option would be to design a different route.
“But the site south of Hartington was too large to negotiate a route around,” said archeologist Terry Steinacker of Nebraska’s Fort Robinson State Park.
He said the area was excavated and the finds are being organized. The on-site archeologists will do a complete report.
Steinacker added that the artifacts, depending on their significance, may be returned to the landowner, who can decide what to do with them.
From a preliminary management report, Steinacker said the site has been identified as a prehistoric site that dates back to the Woodland period — a time before horses and cowboys. This period is set from 1 A.D. to 900 A.D. and it is possible this site is 1,500-2,000 years old. This would be a time before Euro-American occupation in the Midwest.
“This is a fairly old site,” Steinacker said.
Steinacker added it is unfortunate there will not be a way to determine tribal history or relations, but future finds combined with these artifacts could answer many questions about prehistoric times.
Interestingly, the landowner remembered a rock with writing on it was located in a pasture he now owns. Before he purchased the property, the rock was moved to the University in Lincoln and now it sets outside the Elephant Hall at the museum.
Osborn said the rock has petroglyphs on it, which are hand prints that the prehistoric peoples carved out of the rock. The writing either marked a tribal territory or movement across the countryside.
“It is unusual to find these artifacts in the Midwest,” said Osborn. “Unusually they are found in the southwest states like Utah, Nevada and New Mexico.”
The pipeline project is currently on schedule, Rauh said, and the artifact discovery did not slow the progress.
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