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introduced Euro-American diseases. The period saw a peak of strife between tribal groups, <br />and warfare presumably more vigorous than previously experienced in this region, sparked in <br />part by the tremendous pressure Euroamerican contact was creating within and between <br />communities. During this period of tension, Elk River may again have fallen into a buffer <br />zone. French fur -traders, explores and missionaries journeyed through Minnesota beginning <br />in the 1660s and established trading posts that altered and forts. Undoubtedly such activity <br />occurred near the heavily trafficked area of Elk River, but the specifics were not recoverable <br />within the scope of this project. This period deserves of further research in future projects. <br />Because the archaeology of the Elk River area remains almost completely unknown and <br />not even a single archaeological site has been officially documented, there remain very basic <br />research questions of state-wide importance to be addressed, including, but not limited to: <br />1) How did the peoples of Elk River fit into the spectrum of Woodland cultures of <br />Minnesota? <br />2) Does the archaeological record reflect a buffer zone in this region in c. A.D. 1300? <br />11 <br />