529 - Double Ditch Earth Lodge Site

Here, on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, are the remains of the earthlodges, refuse mounds, and the surrounding fortification ditches of Double Ditch Indian Village. The Village, quiet and secluded now, was once a hub of activity, serving as a major city and trading center from the 1400s to the late 1700s. Over those three hundred plus years, thousands of people lived and were buried at this very site.

Double Ditch Indian Village, named after its two fortification ditches, was inhabited by the Mandan Indians. During this time, there were between seven and nine villages simultaneously occupied near the mouth of the Heart River, with the Mandan population totaling 10,000 or more. These earthlodge villages, including Double Ditch, were the center of trade between the Mandans, their nomadic neighbors, and eventually, Euroamerican traders.

The Mandan Indians are often thought to be North Dakota’s first agriculturalists, cultivating hundreds of acres of gardens near the village. It’s hard to imagine these vast river bluffs, covered with anything but prairie grass, but they were once home to rows of corn, beans, and squash and tall, bright sunflowers. What remains at Double Ditch Indian Village are the clearly discernible fortification ditches and earthlodge ruins, each depression in the land reminding us of the history of this sacred land. Listen on to find out more about Double Ditch Indian Village, including what life was like in an earthlodge and what led to the demise of this trading center.