Page 3 - RAGBRAI2014

Rock Valley

1to Okoboji
Mini-Wakan State
Park to contribute not only to a more nuanced under-
standing of variability among Woodland period
The Iowa Great Lakes area contains many societies occupying this important region but can
interesting and significant archaeological sites also provide important comparative data neces-
reflecting all known cultural time periods within sary to explore relations between geography,
Iowa’s 13,000 years of prehistory. Mini-Wakan history and culture in the region. The Iowa DNR
State Park on the northern fringe of Big Spirit intends to preserve this important site in place
Lake, north of Okoboji, is the location of a recent and protect it for future generations.
discovery, site 13DK143. This buried archaeo-
logical deposit rests just underfoot in the grassy
portion of the state park north of the lodge and
west of the access road. Site 13DK143 has been
recorded as a Woodland-era site encompassing
nearly two acres of the park. Archaeologists
determined the presence of three artifact con-
centrations. Bone was the most common artifact
type recovered followed by ceramics and fire-
cracked rock. Lithic materials discovered from
stone tool manufacturing include flaking debris
and bifaces. While just one of what once were
probably numerous locations occupied during the
Middle Prehistoric Period in the Prairie Lake Re-
gion, 13DK143 has survived and has the potential

Prehistoric ceramic
sherd

Overview of Site
13DK143