Prehistoric and Euroamerican Archaeology of Elk River, Minnesota: Current Knowlege and Probability Modeling

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Prehistoric and Early Historic Overview (to 1840s) Specifics about the prehistoric period of Elk River remain almost completely unknown as no archaeological sites in the township have been previously discovered or studied. We can be certain, however, that the area has been home to multiple populations, perhaps beginning with some of the oldest inhabitants of North America, to pre -Dakota, Dakota, and Ojibwa peoples. There is no doubt that people clustered at the juncture of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers to take advantage of the proximity to a variety of ecosystems and natural resources. Furthermore, this river juncture was a crossroads of pre -motorized transportation in the region; Elk River was the place where much regional north -south and east -west traffic would meet as populations made their seasonal rounds. Minnesota Prehistory and History is generally divided into six periods:' Date Period Cultural Traits 10,000-6000 B.C. 'i Paleoindian Small semi -nomadic population, generally involved in large game hunting (bison and mammoths), as well as utilization of smaller games and other natural j ' resources. The Paleoindians are characterized by i their large projectile points, and they did not use j ceramic technology. 6000-200 B.C. Archaic i Large game hunting continued with an increasing emphasis on diverse strategies of hunting, trapping, o t and resource exploitation. The Archaic peoples are more closely adapted to the local environment and locally identifiable cultures and traditions appear. 1 Chipped as well as ground stone tools are characteristic of this period, as well as the use of cold -hammered copper. The Archaic peoples did not use ceramic technology 200 B.C. - A.D. Initial Ceramic technology is first used, and new styles of 500 Woodland stone tools are developed. The earliest examples of mound building date to this period. A hunting - t gathering tradition continues, but people are more sedentary and increasingly distinctive local and regional develop. Minnesota's Initial 1 cultures Woodland populations presumably included the ancestors of the some of the Dakota. A.D. 500 1680 1 Terminal The patterns of the Initial Woodland continue, but j 9