Axe Head from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
This axe head was collected from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1927. It was made to be used as a wedge and axe. The butt end has been used as a hammer. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Biface from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
This large biface was recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society. It is made of Smoky Hill silicified chalk, a type of chert that outcrops in western Kansas and north into Nebraska. It may have been stored for future use (what archeologists call a cache), meant for trade, or had some other significance we today do not know. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was then excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Bifaces from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
These large bifaces were recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County. Both are made of Smoky Hill silicified chalk, a type of chert that outcrops in western Kansas and north into Nebraska. The bifaces may have been stored for future use (what archeologists call a cache), meant for trade, or had some other significance we today do not know. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was then excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Bifaces from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
These large bifaces were recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County. The brown one is made of Smoky Hill silicified chalk, a type of chert that outcrops in western Kansas and north into Nebraska. The lighter one may be made of Flint Hills region chert. The bifaces may have been stored for future use (what archeologists call a cache), meant for trade, or had some other significance we today do not know. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was then excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Building the Pawnee Indian Museum
Date: 1967
Shown are three slides shot in 1967 during the building of the Pawnee Indian Museum. The first slide shows the construction of the footings for the museum building. The second slide shows the trusses being set at the museum building. The final slide is a view to the east in the Museum interior showing the excavated house floor. The large Pawnee earthlodge floor was left intact after the archeological excavation. The Pawnee Indian Museum is located at a large fortified Pawnee village site that was occupied from approximately 1770 to 1802.

Collared Rims from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
These four rim sherds were recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County during 1965 and 1966 archeological investigations by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. The rim sherds are decorated on the collar (a ridge or band folded over from the top of the vessel) and on the lip, with two of the sherds having additional decoration on the interior. The rim sherds are decorated with opposed diagonal designs and incised and tool trailed diagonal lines. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the many remains of one of earthlodges, which was left open after the excavation.

Damage to the Pike Pawnee monument in Republic County, Kansas
Date: 1946
Several views of damage to the Pike Pawnee monument in Republic County, Kansas. This monument is part of the Pawnee Indian Museum, the oldest historic site owned by the state of Kansas. In 1899 George and Elizabeth Johnson deeded to the state of Kansas most of the site upon which a large Kitkehahki (Republican) band Pawnee earth lodge village had stood in the late 1700's. The state accepted the site in 1901, put up an iron fence and erected a granite obelisk to mark the site where in 1806, United States explorer Zebulon Pike convinced the Pawnees to lower the Spanish flag, recently left there by a large Spanish force and raise the United States flag. Supposedly this was the first time the U.S. flag was raised west of the Missouri River. This flag raising episode was true except it happened about 40 miles up the Republican River at a village the Pawnees moved to after deserting this one. The portion of this site that was saved included 22 earth lodge depressions, numerous storage pit depressions, and remains of the fortification wall. Two house depressions were excavated in 1949 but intensive investigation of the site did not occur until 1965 under the direction of Kansas State Archeologist Tom Witty. In 1967 the museum was constructed around one of the largest of the lodge depressions before it was excavated. What the residents of the lodge left behind was uncovered by the archeologists and left in the exact same spots. Only eight of the 22 lodge depressions have been excavated. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Today the site is operated by the Kansas Historical Society as Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site.

Excavations at House 5 in the Pawnee Indian Museum, 14RP1
Date: 1967
Shown are views of the excavation of House 5 at the Pawnee Indian Village State Historic Site in Republic County. The museum was built first and then excavations took place within. The site is the location of a large, fortified Pawnee village site that was occupied from approximately 1770 to 1802.

Field Howitzer Shot from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
This ammunition for a 12-pounder field howitzer were recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County. Howitzer's were first developed in the late 16th century and are a mobile medium trajectory weapon, smaller than a cannon, but larger than a mortar. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was then excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Firearm Tumbler from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
This firearm part, a tumbler fragment, was collected from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1967. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Glass Trade Beads from Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
These 274 glass barrel-shaped trade beads were recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County. They were excavated during 1965 archeological investigations by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. Beads such as these were widely traded until the 1850s. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Glass Trade Beads from Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
These glass trade beads were recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County during 1965 and 1966 archeological investigations by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. Beads such as this were widely traded until the 1850s. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was then excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

House 22 Excavations at Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1967
These images are of the excavation of House 22 at the Pawnee Indian Village State Historic Site in Republic County. Shown are three views to the east across the excavation and a metal knife in situ. The site is the location at a large, fortified Pawnee village that was occupied from approximately 1770 to 1802.

House 3 Excavations at Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1966
These images are of the excavation at House 3 at the Pawnee Indian Village State Historic Site in Republic County. Shown is a view across the excavation with the monument visible in the center, two views of charred corn and a pottery vessel taken in situ, a pit found within House 3, and a view of visitors attending the August 22, 1966, open house. The site is the location of a large, fortified Pawnee village that was occupied from approximately 1770 to 1802.

House 4 Excavations at Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1965
These images are of the excavation at House 4 at the Pawnee Indian Village State Historic Site in Republic County. Shown is a view across the excavation with the monument in the upper right, a view taken from a ladder to the southeast of the finished excavation, and a view of visitors attending the August 22, 1965, open house of houses 3 and 4. The site is the location of a large, fortified Pawnee village that was occupied from approximately 1770 to 1802.

House 6 Excavations at 14RP1
Date: 1966
View to the west taken during excavations of House 6 at 14RP1 by State Archeologist Tom Witty and crew. A painted wrought iron fence is visible in the background. This fence still bounds a portion of the large Pawnee village that was once present. The Pawnee Indian Museum is now located at this site in Republic County.

Indian dance and celebration at Pawnee Village, Republic County
Date: 1901
This photograph shows an Indian dance and celebration at Pawnee Village in Republic County, Kansas.

Mano from Republic County
Date: 1770-1800
This large mano was found near the Pawnee Indian Village site near Republic, Kansas by the University of Nebraska archeologists. The mano was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1987. Manos were likely used as the upper, hand-held millstone for grinding foods and pigments.

Metal Arrow Point from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
This metal arrow point was recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village site in Republic County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1967. The Benton style point is made of brass. The Pawnee Indian Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A museum was built over one of the lodges that was then excavated, leaving the exposed floor visible.

Metal Arrow Points from the Pawnee Indian Village, 14RP1
Date: 1770-1802
These brass and iron arrow points were recovered from the Pawnee Indian Village State Historic Site in Republic County. Native Americans made some of the metal points from scraps of metal such as barrel bands. Others were manufactured and traded to them by Europeans and Americans. The site is the location of a large, fortified Pawnee village that was occupied from approximately 1770 to 1802.

Open house at the Pawnee Indian Village Museum, Republic County
Date: August 22, 1965
Three views of the open house at Pawnee Indian Village Museum in Republic County, Kansas. The Pawnee Indian Museum is the oldest historic site owned by the state of Kansas. In 1899 George and Elizabeth Johnson deeded to the state of Kansas most of the site upon which a large Kitkehahki (Republican) band Pawnee earth lodge village had stood in the late 1700's. The state accepted the site in 1901, put up an iron fence and erected a granite obelisk to mark the site where in 1806, United States explorer Zebulon Pike convinced the Pawnees to lower the Spanish flag, recently left there by a large Spanish force and raise the United States flag. Supposedly this was the first time the U.S. flag was raised west of the Missouri River. This flag raising episode was true except it happened about 40 miles up the Republican River at a village the Pawnees moved to after deserting this one. The portion of this site that was saved included 22 earth lodge depressions, numerous storage pit depressions, and remains of the fortification wall. Two house depressions were excavated in 1949 but intensive investigation of the site did not occur until 1965 under the direction of Kansas State Archeologist Tom Witty. In 1967 the museum was constructed around one of the largest of the lodge depressions before it was excavated. What the residents of the lodge left behind was uncovered by the archeologists and left in the exact same spots. Only eight of the 22 lodge depressions have been excavated. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Today the site is operated by the Kansas Historical Society as Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site.

Pawnee Family Bundle at the Pawnee Indian Museum
Date: 1987
Donated to the Kansas Historical society in 1987, this sacred Pawnee family bundle had been in the donor's family for at least five generations, passing down matrilineally. The bundle is now on display at the Pawnee Indian Museum in Republic County. The traditional story, as related by the donor, were that her ancestors were in a hunting party that was massacred. Her ancestor tied the bundle to his granddaughter's back, put her on a horse, and sent her away prior to the massacre. It was the donor's mother's express wish that this family bundle be placed on the west side of the Pawnee Indian Museum, where it resides today.

Pawnee Indian Village celebration
Date: 1935
This photograph represents a group of men, women and children celebrating at the Pawnee Indian Village in Republic County, Kansas. Children identified from left to right is: Alex Young Eagle, Sarah Young Eagle, and John Knife Chief. Adults identified from left to right is: Frank Young Eagle, Pearl Young Eagle, Charlie Knife Chief, Annie Knife Chief, Guide None Indian, Paul Little Eagle, Julia Little Eagle, Nellie Peters, and Jessie Peters. The museum was constructed in 1967 and has been operating under the control of the Kansas Historical Society. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Pawnee Indian Village Museum diorama
Date: between 1967 and 1971
This photograph portrays a diorama at the Pawnee Indian Village Museum in Republic County, Kansas representing Indian culture. The museum was constructed in 1967 and has been operating under the control of the Kansas Historical Society. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Pawnee Indian Village Museum diorama and display
Date: between 1967 and 1971
These photographs represent the interior displays and a diorama of Pawnee's killing a herd of buffalo at the Pawnee Indian Museum in Republic County, Kansas. The museum was constructed in 1967 and has been operating under the control of the Kansas Historical Society. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.