National Historic Landmark

Langdeau Site

Lower Brule, Lyman County, South Dakota

Listed

October 14, 1966

Type

Site

Period

Listed

Ref No.

66000717

About this property

The Langdeau Site, designated by the Smithsonian trinomial 39LM209, is an archaeological site in Lyman County, South Dakota, near Lower Brule. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The site was one of the first to provide evidence of horticultural activity by Native Americans in the region. The exact location/address of this historic site is restricted. It is located on a high terrace overlooking the Missouri River. It consists of fifteen depressions consistent with traditional Native American earthlodge construction, with no evidence that the village was fortified (e.g. by being surrounded by a palisade). Pottery finds at the site were instrumental in establishing a prehistoric settlement chronology in the Big Bend area of central South Dakota between 1100 and 1300 CE. The site underwent excavation in 1962 under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution's River Basin Survey, a program that investigated river banks archaeologically in advance of planned flood control and water supply projects. The expedition excavated four of the house sites, which were depressions between 30 and 40 feet (9.1 and 12.2 m) in width. The ends appeared to be open, lacking posts, and were stained with red ocher. They also dug trenches in an unsuccessful bid to locate evidence of fortification. This differentiated the site from the nearby Jiggs Thompson Site, which the same crew found to be surrounded by a moat. Finds at this site included copper, shell, bone, and stone tools and List of National Historic Landmarks in South Dakota National Register of Historic Places listings in Lyman County, South Dakota

Location

Lower Brule, Lyman County, South Dakota

Everything a full report reveals about Langdeau Site

This page lists Langdeau Site. 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.

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Questions about this property

When was Langdeau Site listed on the National Register?

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

What type of historic resource is Langdeau Site?

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

Is Langdeau Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Langdeau 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 Langdeau Site?

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

Can I research the history near Langdeau Site?

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 Langdeau Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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