554 - Menoken Village
Ten miles east of Bismarck, Apple Creek meanders through the terrain, winding its way to the Missouri River. The banks along the creek seem unassuming, monotonous even. Miles of fields and pastures border the creek, with occasional farmyards and residences dotting the landscape. But did you know that around 800 years ago, this particular quiet, wooded spot looked remarkably different?
Menoken Indian Village was once home to approximately thirty oval-shaped, earth-covered houses built and used by the Late Plains Woodland peoples, who were primarily hunters and gatherers. Nearly 200 individuals called the village home, many of them the ancestors of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara peoples in North Dakota. Like many communities of long ago, the location of this site was carefully chosen both for its proximity to water and also for its defensive features. The steep banks to the north and west, difficult to climb, served as a deterrent for intruders while the rest of the village was protected by a palisade, a tall wall, and a deep ditch, which can still be seen today. Combined, this fortification system protected the village and its people.
Just imagine what it would have been like to build this village, with its strategic location and defense system, eight centuries ago. The construction required organized labor, a significant amount of timber, and tools. Important to them were stone implements such as arrowheads, knives, scrapers, drills, and planes. Because certain types of stone best suited to manufacturing tools weren’t readily available near Menoken Village, trade with neighbors closer those material sources was necessary. Excavated samples reveal mainly Knife River flint, which was most abundant roughly sixty miles from the site.
Today, the significance of this landscape could easily be missed. Upon careful examination, you will notice the ditch and a few other indentations in the ground, which is all that remains of the Menoken Village. The history lives on, however, and visitors can read more about the village at the kiosks near the parking area.