A Preliminary Report on the Thomas Riggs Village Site

The Thomas Riggs village site is located along the east bank of the Missouri River on the ranch of the late Thomas L. Riggs in the SW¼ NW¼ Section 27, Township 112 North, Range 81 West, Hughes County, South Dakota (Fig. 74). It is approximately 10 miles above the proposed site of the Oahe Dam and will fall well within the limits of the basin of this huge reservoir when it eventually becomes filled. This particular site, unlike many others in the area, shows little evidence of depredation.This may be due in part to the fact that evidences of occupation are only faintly discernible on the surface. No conspicuous pits or mounds are visible, and the site is covered with a luxuriant growth of native grass which not only conceals the usual telltale surface accumulation of refuse but also obscures the minor surface irregularities.