Huff in Morton County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Village Fortifications and Human Conflict

Huff Indian Village State Historic Site

Photographed by Connor Olson, September 27, 2019

1. Village Fortifications and Human Conflict Marker

Inscription. In front of you is part of the fortification system that once surrounded this village. The fortification system at Huff Village is a classic example of civil defense and community preparation for conflict. Inter-village conflict may have been heightened by drought, climatic change, and related population movement. Three sides of Huff Indian Village were protected by a ditch and a palisade wall of closely-spaced wooden posts. Ten bastions or outwardly projected loops existed along the wall lines strategically placed at the village corners and at intervals of 180 to 240 feet along the palisade line. A ditch was constructed around three sides of the village, just outside the palisade line.

Today the ditch is about 15 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. When this village was occupied, the ditch was about 5 feet deep. Dirt removed from the ditch was thrown inside, and the posts of the palisade wall were set in this dirt.

Construction of the fortification system involved a huge amount of labor as well as heavy use of local timber resources. Excavation of several sections of the palisade wall shows that the posts were about

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eight inches in diameter and centered about one foot apart. About 2500 posts were used in the palisade wall. The supply of posts probably came from the trees that thrived along the banks of the Missouri River Somewhere near the village.

Magnetic readings were taken along a section of the village fortification. This map of the magnetic readings shows numerous circular and oval shapes three to six feet in diameter. They occur just inside the village's palisade wall. They are probably deep pits that were used for storage of corn and other garden crops.

Photo captions:
Upper left: Huff Village aerial photo
Lower left: Excavation of the palisade wall in 1960 showing post holes
Lower middle: Cross section of the fortification ditch
Upper right: Huff Village 3-D image showing the planned fortification along the village perimeter
Lower right: Magnetic survey overlaid on aerial photo of Huff Village

Erected by State Historical Society of North Dakota.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 46° 37.102′ N,

The barely-visible ditch today. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, September 27, 2019

2. The barely-visible ditch today.

100° 38.633′ W. Marker is in Huff, North Dakota, in Morton County. It can be reached from North Dakota Route 1806. Located in Huff Indian Village State Historic Site along Roughrider Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mandan ND 58554, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Missouri Plateau

and in Greater Bismarck Area.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Village Fortifications and Human Conflict (here, next to this marker); Huff Indian Village Dates to AD 1443-1465 (within shouting distance of this marker); Huff Indian Village State Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Huff Indian Village State Historic Site (within shouting

Missouri River at Huff Site. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, September 27, 2019

3. Missouri River at Huff Site.

distance of this marker); Remote Sensing (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cache Pit and Village Subsistence (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Animal Remains Found in Cache Pits (about 300 feet away); Plaza and Ceremonial Lodge (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huff.

Also see . . . Huff Village State Historic Site. (Submitted on August 7, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 364 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?