Huge South Dakota Artifact Collection

[Th3rty7]

http://www.loitwoodrelics.com/index_files/Page364.htm

This is supposedly one of the largest privately owned artifact collections in the country. Only a fraction of the collection is pictured on the site apparently and will soon be up for sale. I have to say the individual quality of pieces in these frames is ridiculously fine. Every piece looks flawless.

 

[larson1951]

i was born in mobridge in 1951 and grew up on a farm in walworth county
lots of good stuff there
larson1951

 

[joshuaream]

Looks like a neat collection, after seeing Larson's finds I can easily see how diggers working for decades could build a huge collection.

I do have to say, it's sad that they glued all of those bone relics on the felt... The displays look nice enough to keep as is, but most of us like to be able to handle pieces. The points aren't bad because you can just soak them in water until the glue softens up, but good luck getting a fragile bone fish hook off that backing.

 

[larson1951]

amen to that josh
lars

 

[The Grim Reaper]

WOW!!!!!

That was un-freakin-believable. I don't think I have ever seen that much bone in one collection and there are Fish Hooks in every tray. Unreal!!!

 

[Th3rty7]

I know, those frames beat most museum collections I've seen by a long shot. Everything is top grade. Gotta agree about glue of any kind on artifacts, especially bone and shell. Never a good idea.

 

[coteau]

The Missouri River and its major tributaries in the Dakotas was one of the most densely populated areas in North America before smallpox and other diseases decimated the tribes. There were approximately 25,000 Arikara in SD and another 30,000 Mandan and Hidatsa in ND. However, by the late 1800s there were less than 500 Arikara left and just a few Mandans...

A large percentage of the sites were inundated by water after the dams were built on the Missouri River fifty some years ago. Just thinking about picking up a flake or pot sherd on COE property will get a person a hefty fine these days....

 

[Tnmountains]

You may be able to actually preserve and harden the bone on the board. I think Harry over in fossils knows some tricks. Then you may be able to start from the back with a solution depending upon the bonding agent to remove it from the board. A laborious process to be sure.
Freakin awsome collection.
Thanks as always thirty7