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The Blood Run/Rock Island archeological sites (32LO2/39LN2) are collectively referred to as Blood Run, a National Historic Landmark property that lies on both the Iowa and South Dakota sides of the Big Sioux River at the mouth of Blood Run Creek about 15 miles southeast of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The site was occupied, at least intermittently, by the Dhegihan-speaking Omaha and Ponca tribes from about AD 1500 to the early eighteenth century and, late in that period, by the Chiwere-speaking Ioway and Oto as well. Omaha, then undifferentiated from the Ponca, presence here is documented in the earliest historic accounts. Blood Run is the largest recorded Oneota site. Early written accounts document an earthen enclosure, an earthen serpent effigy, hundreds of stone circles and ovals that probably delineated house and other structures, at least eight pitted boulders, and 275 or more mounds. At least 68 mounds and the pitted boulders are still visible today. Thus, despite long-term degradation by railroad and related construction, gravel mining, agriculture, and casual digging by local antiquarians, the site retains sufficient integrity to continue as a National Historic Landmark. It has recently been judged to qualify for inclusion in the National Park System. Oneota occupation in northwestern Iowa, which began about AD 1350 in the Correctionville and Okoboji localities and ended shortly after AD 1700 at Blood Run, is reviewed; the possible interrelationships are explored. Red pipestone, probably catlinite, artifacts are abundant on the Blood Run site, suggesting that the occupants had at least intermittent control over the Minnesota quarries and probably traded the stone widely. In addition to the systematic subsurface investigations conducted by the University of Wisconsin in 1964, salvage excavations and surface survey were conducted at Blood Run in 1985 and 1986. These investigations produced a large inventory of materials including pottery, chipped and ground stone tools, and bone and antler artifacts that are described and discussed. The floral and faunal remains recovered are described as is a large, multi-segmented deer hide found in a pit feature. Human remains from the site are described with discussion of evidence for environmental stress, pathology, trauma, and burial patterns. The history of Blood Run investigations spanning nearly 150 years is summarized, offering insights not available through strictly archaeological efforts. Local surface collections have been used to supplement the limited excavated information, offering a broader perspective of the occupants' lives. Keywords: Central Siouan, Dhegihan, Chiwere, Oneota, archaeology, history, ethnohistory

The Blood Run/Rock Island archeological sites (32L02/39LN2) are collectively referred to as Blood Run, a National Historic Landmark property that lies on both the Iowa and South Dakota sides of the Big Sioux River at the mouth of Blood Run Creek about 15 miles southeast of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The site was occupied, at least intermittently, by the Dhegihan-speaking Omaha and Ponca tribes from about AD 1500 to the early eighteenth century and, late in that period, by the Chiwere-speaking Joway and Oto as well. Omaha, then undifferentiated from the Ponca, presence here is documented in the earliest historic accounts. Blood Run is the largest recorded Oneota site. Early written accounts document an earthen enclosure, an earthen serpent effigy, hundreds of stone circles and ovals that probably delineated house and other structures, at least eight pitted boulders, and 275 or more mounds. At least 68 mounds and the pitted boulders are still visible today. Thus, despite long-term degradation by railroad and related construction, gravel mining, agriculture, and casual digging by local antiquarians, the site retains sufficient integrity to continue as a National Historic Landmark It has recently been judged to quality for inclusion in the National Park System. Oneota occupation in northwestern Iowa, which began about AD 1350 in the Correctionville and Okoboji localities and ended shortly after AD 1700 at Blood Run, is reviewed; the possible interrelation- ships are explored. Red pipestone, probably catlinite, artifacts are abundant on the Blood Run site, suggesting that the occupants had at least intermittent control over the Minnesota quarries and probably traded the stone widely. In addition to the systematic subsurface investigations conducted by the University of Wisconsin in 1964, salvage excavations and surface survey were conducted at,. Blood Run in 1985 and 1986. These investigations produced a large inventory of materials including pottery, chipped and round stone tools, and bone and antler art(facts that are described and discussed. The floral and faunal remains recovered are described as is a large, multi-segmented deer hide found in a pit feature. Human remains from the site are described with discussion of evidence for environmental stress, pathology, trauma, and burial pat- terns. The history of Blood Run investigations spanning nearly 150 years is summarized, offering insights not available through strictly archaeological efforts. Local surface collections have been used to supplement the limited excavated information, offering a broader perspective of the occupants' lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]