National Historic Landmark

McLemore Site

Colony, Washita County, Oklahoma
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000636

About this property

The McLemore Site, designated by the Smithsonian trinomial 34WA5, is a prehistoric archaeological site of the Southern Plains villagers located near Colony in Washita County, Oklahoma. It is the site of a prehistoric Plains Indian village, dating from AD 1330-1360, during the Washita River phase. The site is of historic importance for being a key element helping determine the chronology of prehistoric cultures in the region. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The McLemore Site is located on a terrace overlooking Cobb Creek outside the town of Colony in central western Oklahoma. The first major archaeological investigation took place in 1960 under the auspices of Dr. Robert E. Bell of Oklahoma State University. Three sections of the site were excavated: an area of cache and refuse pits, an area once containing a structure, and a cemetery with 48 burial sites. Artifacts found include pottery vessel fragments, a clay human effigy vessel, and stone tools and tool-making debitage. Also found were tools fashioned out of bone and shell beads. The site finds show evidence of a common grouping of features related to a hunter-gatherer culture called the Washita River Focus (named after the Washita River in which watershed it is located), but with undisputed radiocarbon dates from an unusually early period. It was also the most westerly find of this culture to date, and set off a debate concerning its relationship with a similar complex of features called the Custer River Focus. Clay figurines from the site suggest widespread tattooing by the residents of this site. Perforated bone pendants, used either in necklaces or ear ornaments, were also found at the site. The site is on private property, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Colony on State Highway 4.Public access is not allowed. National Register of Historic Places listings in Washita County, Oklahoma

Location

Colony, Washita County, Oklahoma

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.

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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
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Spotlight
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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.
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Questions about this property

When was McLemore Site listed on the National Register?

McLemore Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is McLemore Site?

McLemore Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is McLemore Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. McLemore Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for McLemore Site?

The period of significance for McLemore Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near McLemore Site?

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