| South Dakota |
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| Shield bearing warrior figures are found in western South Dakota in two areas: the Black Hills and the North Cave Hills. Originally, the lack of shield bearing warriors in the Black Hills has been used as evidence of a lack of Shoshone presence. Subsequent research has shown that a variety of shields and shield figures can be found in both the Black Hills and the North Cave Hills. Keyser places the shield bearers of the North Cave Hills as dating from approximately AD 1500-1700, largely coexisting with the the hoofprint tradition and concluding with the origin of the Biographical Style (Keyser 1984:50). Sundstrom places the few shield figures in the Black Hills of South Dakota and adjacent Wyoming somewhat later (1750-1850?), as part of what she defines as the "lightly incised tradition" (Sunstrom 1984: 68). A total of 11 shield figures from 6 sites are included in the database, although more undoubtedly exist. Keyser (1984) reports at least 19 shield figures in the North Cave Hills, although only 10-12 are depicted in his study. If you have any additonal information, comments, or know of any other shield figures from South Dakota, I'd love to hear from you. |
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| Last Updated 3/25/01 |
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| Database Number: SD-1 Site Number: 39HN199 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 45 cm tall; 40 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 32). Keywords: arm Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-2 Site Number: 39HN199 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 65 cm tall; 35 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 32). Keywords: Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-3 Site Number: 39HN17 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 12 cm tall; 8 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 32). Keywords: feet Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-4 Site Number: 39HN17 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 55 cm tall; 35 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 32). Keywords: incomplete, circles, fringe Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-5 Site Number: 39CU91 (Black Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Custer Method: Pecked Size: 20 cm tall; 12 cm shield diameter Sources: (Sundstrom 1982: 11; 1984: 72; 1990: 153). Keywords: combat Comments: One of few shield figures on the South Dakota side of the Black Hills |
| Database Number: SD-6 Site Number: 39HN210 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 30 cm tall; 15 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 40). Keywords: incomplete, horizontal, dots Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-7 Site Number: 39HN208 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 38 cm tall; 12 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 32). Keywords: v-neck, knees, feet, arms Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-8 Site Number: 39HN162 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 38 cm tall; 15 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 33). Keywords: feet Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-9 Site Number: 39HN208 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 45 cm tall; 25 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 32). Keywords: v-neck, feet, hands, transparent Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-10 Site Number: 39HN162 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 120 cm tall; 55 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 33). Keywords: feet, circles, weeping eye Comments: |
| Database Number: SD-10 Site Number: 39HN162 (North Cave Hills) Site Name: Unknown County: Harding Method: incised Size: 70 cm tall; 35 cm shield diameter Sources: (Keyser 1984: 33). Keywords: feet, weeping eye Comments: |
| Sources |
| Keyser, James D. 1984 Rock Art of the Southern North Cave Hills. In Rock Art of Western South Dakota: Special Publication of the South Dakota Archaeological Society no. 9. pp. 53-142. Sundstrom, Linea 1982 Rock Art Chronology for the Black Hills. American Indian Rock Art 7-8: 177-204. 1984 Rock Art of the Southern Black Hills. In Rock Art of Western South Dakota: Special Publication of the South Dakota Archaeological Society no. 9. pp. 53-142. 1989 Additional Rock Art from the Southern Balck Hills. South Dakota Archaeology 13: 29-54. 1990 Rock Art of the Southern Black Hills. Garland Publishing, New York |