Fort Pierre in Stanley County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Archaeology at Fort Pierre Chouteau
Archaeology is the study of past human cultures. It teaches us about past events and ways of life. Archaeology also reveals how people lived day-to-day and how they dealt with changes in their environment.
Excavation - the exposure, recording, and processing of archaeological remains through systematic digging - revealed much about Fort Pierre Chouteau. Dog and fish bones told researchers about diet at the fort. Builders' trenches and wood palisade remains showed where the fort's walls had been. Sawdust verified the existence of an active sawmill.
The Fort Pierre Chouteau site offered many tantalizing archaeological questions. What evidence of the fort remained? Did its size change? What materials and goods did the inhabitants use? Did those materials change over time?
Researchers also used geophysical tools - ground penetrating radar, electrical resistance meters, and magnetic gradiometers - to confirm the palisade location, reveal where buildings once stood, and identify the most likely spot for the blacksmith's shop.
Images courtesy of the South Dakota Historical Society and the National Archives.
Erected by The South Dakota State Historical Society, a Preserve America grant and the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad Corporation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Forts and Castles • Science & Medicine.
Location. 44° 23.453′ N, 100° 23.263′ W. Marker is in Fort Pierre, South Dakota, in Stanley County. Marker can be reached from Fort Chouteau Road, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 1806 when traveling east. Marker is located on the grounds of the Fort Pierre Chouteau National Historic Landmark, at the northeast end of the walking trail from Fort Chouteau Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 350 Fort Chouteau Road, Fort Pierre SD 57532, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Pierre Chouteau Site (here, next to this marker); Fort Pierre Chouteau: Military Occupancy (1855-1857) (here, next to this marker); Fort Pierre Choteau Trading Post (here, next to this marker); Cultures Come Together (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Pierre Chouteau: Fur Trade (1832-1855) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fur Trade on the Upper Missouri River (about 500 feet away); Rivers and Trails (about 500 feet away); Scotty Philip and his Buffalo Ranch (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Pierre.
More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high metal posts.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Fort Pierre Chouteau National Historic Landmark
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 170 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 10, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.