For centuries the Upper Missouri River Valley drew Northern Plains Indians to its wooded banks and rich soil. These earthlodge peoples, like the nomadic tribes, hunted bison and other game, but were essentially farmers who dwelled in villages along the Missouri and its tributaries.The Hidatsa Tribe was originally made up of three distinct subtribes— Awatixa, Awaxawi, and Hidatsa Proper. According to tradition the Awatixa were created on the Missouri River. Awaxawi and Hidatsa Proper stories place the Awatixa along streams to the east. The Hidatsa moved farther north to the mouth of the Knife, settling Awatixa Xi’e Village (Lower Hidatsa Site) around 1525 and Hidatsa Village (Big Hidatsa Site) about 1600. The Hidatsa borrowed from the Mandan, learning corn horticulture, and adopting some pottery patterns. Intermarriage and trade helped cement relationships, and over time the two cultures became almost indistinguishable. With the Arikara to the south, they formed an economic force that dominated the region. The three tribes adapted to the conditions in the Upper Missouri River Valley. They located their summer villages, with up to 120 circular lodges, on natural terraces above the river. Each lodge sheltered a family of 10 to 30 people from the region’s extreme temperatures. Stop at Knife River Indian Village to visit a reconstructed earthlodge complete with internal furnishings!
To log this cache, you will need to complete the following tasks:
1. Message me the answer to the following question: Outside of the Earthlodge is an interpretive sign. What is the title of the sign?
2. Take a picture of yourself or a personal item with the Earthlodge
Happy Caching!
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.