National Register of Historic Places

High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13)

Riverdale, Mercer County, North Dakota
Listed
May 21, 1978
Type
Site
Period
Pre Contact
Ref No.
78001991

About this property

The High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) is an ancient Native American ceremonial site near the Garrison Dam and Riverdale, North Dakota. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is located atop a butte and includes a "turf cut turtle effigy." Items recovered from the site include 14 points, 24 body sherds, five rim sherds, and a grooved paddle. The property is protected by the State Historical Society of North Dakota and is known as Turtle Effigy State Historic Site.

Location

Riverdale, Mercer County, North Dakota

Categories

PREHISTORIC
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13)

This page lists High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13). A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) report
Or see a real report first

Questions about this property

When was High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) listed on the National Register?

High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 21, 1978.

What type of historic resource is High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13)?

High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13)?

The period of significance for High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) is recorded as the pre_contact era.

Can I research the history near High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13)?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Mercer County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Mercer County.

Explore MercerCounty ›

More historic places in North Dakota

Browse all historic places in North Dakota.

View North Dakotahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

North Dakota history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

North Dakotahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near High Butte Effigy and Village Site (32ME13) will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report