The Mandan and Hidatsa peoples lived in permanent villages of well-constructed earthlodge dwellings/NPS

While more than 100 national park sites will host a BioBlitz this year, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is adopting the concept to conduct an ArcheoBlitz this week with the help of local middle-schoolers.

The activities, which celebrate the National Park Service’s centennial and highlight research on Hidatsa history preserved at the North Dakota park, will culminate May 7 in a day-long public event that includes a drum group, a performance by the Eagle Feather Dancers, and research presentations.

Before that, on May 5-6, seventh- and eighth-graders from the surrounding area will work side-by-side with professional archaeologists to conduct field research. This event will utilize the BioBlitz model that has successfully been used to gather natural resources information and engage the public with resource- and science-based activities at national parks across the country. With a BioBlitz, the goal is to find and identify as many species in an area over the period of a couple days.

The students will be introduced to geophysics, soil stratigraphy and chemistry, and traditional excavation methods through:

• Pairing archaeologists and traditional knowledge holders with students
• Teaching archaeological and scientific methods
• Teaching traditional ecological knowledge
• Conducting geophysical surveys
• Using artifact-based investigation
• On-site analysis with a mobile archeological laboratory
• GPS site mapping
• Soil testing

The event is being presented with the help of the Midwest Archeological Center, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, North Dakota State Historical Society, Northern Plains Heritage Foundation, and North Dakota Geographic Alliance.