Seven North Dakota Archeologists Find No Evidence of Ancient Burial Grounds

According to a memo circulated last week by State Historical Society of North Dakota Chief Archaeologist Paul Picha, seven archeologists found no burial or culturally significant sites in the Dakota Access Pipeline construction corridor to date. This analysis, first reported by Say Anything blogger Rob Port, aligns with the US Army Corps of Engineers’ two-year review process conclusion: the project did not infringe on areas of cultural sensitivity.

According to Picha’s findings, “The inventory recorded ten (10) locations where rodent to bovine-sized mammal bone fragments and teeth were present. No cultural material was observed in the inspected corridor…In conclusion, the cultural resources inventory and inspection conducted reported herein yielded no evidence of infractions to or violations of North Dakota Century Code.”

These reports build upon Judge Boasberg’s recent ruling that also noted there were no sites of significance. There have now been three different, independent confirmations that there are no cultural sites in the area, despite claims made by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. There has yet to be any evidence whatsoever that validates statements made by Dakota Access protestors.