Deer Creek Site
Encyclopedia
The Deer Creek/Bryson Paddock Sites are the remains of 18th century fortified villages of the Wichita tribe
located along the Arkansas River
in Kay County, Oklahoma
.
. It is situated on a low bluff overlooking the Arkansas River. The Bryson Paddock site is almost 2 miles north also on a low bluff near the river. Both sites were fortified with log and earth stockades surrounding villages of grass-thatched conical houses typical of the Wichita Indians. An archaeologist has estimated that the sites had a population of 3,000 people. Some of the houses were large. One, excavated by archaeologists, had a diameter of 42 feet.
It appears that the inhabitants of the two sites were the Wichita descendants of the Quivira
people visited by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
in 1541 in central Kansas. The reason the Quivirans moved south to these sites about 1720 is probably due to two factors. First, the Wichita were under pressure from the Apache
and Comanche
on the west and the Osage
on the east, The Deer Creek/Bryson Paddock sites may have been more secure against attacks. Secondly, located on the Arkansas River, near the head of navigatation for large canoes, French traders could transport trade goods to the sites by boat. Archaeologists have found metal tools and glass beads of French and English origin at the site. The Wichita probably traded buffalo skins and meat (jerky
) to the French in exchange. Some French traders may have lived at the sites.
The Wichita were known to be excellent farmers and their villages were surrounded by fields of corn, beans, squash, watermelon (introduced by the Spanish), tobacco, native plums, and possibly other fruits and nuts. A metate (grinding stone) weighing hundreds of pounds has been found at the sites which indicates large scale processing of corn meal. They traded their agricultural products to the buffalo hunting Plains Indians
.
Archaeologists believe the Wichita moved away from the site in 1758, probably to escape Osage attacks. The French negotiated a peace between the Wichita and the Comanche in 1746, and the Wichita journeyed south to new homes in the Red River valley on the border between Texas
and Oklahoma. There they became major allies and trade partners of the Comanche.
knew about the site in 1914 and excavated it in 1917. In 1926 he found a map listing a settlement, "Fernandina," in the area of the Deer Creek Site, so he concluded it was the first non-Indian settlement in the area; however, the map was created in 1860. Ethnohistorian Mildren Mott Wedel asserted in 1981 that Fernandina or Ferdinandina had no connection to the 18th century Wichita village. Excavations in 2004 found a large number of trade items.
The Deer Creek Site and the Bryson Paddock site were declared National Historic Landmark
s in 1964 and 1979 respectively. The US Army Corps of Engineers currently owns the Deer Creek site. The Bryson Paddock site is under private ownership.
Wichita (tribe)
The Wichita people are indigenous inhabitants of North America, who traditionally spoke the Wichita language, a Caddoan language. They have lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas...
located along the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
in Kay County, Oklahoma
Kay County, Oklahoma
Kay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 48,080. Its county seat is Newkirk. The largest city in Kay County is Ponca City.-19th century:...
.
Location and History
The Deer Creek Site is located east of Newkirk, OklahomaNewkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,243 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kay County.-Geography:...
. It is situated on a low bluff overlooking the Arkansas River. The Bryson Paddock site is almost 2 miles north also on a low bluff near the river. Both sites were fortified with log and earth stockades surrounding villages of grass-thatched conical houses typical of the Wichita Indians. An archaeologist has estimated that the sites had a population of 3,000 people. Some of the houses were large. One, excavated by archaeologists, had a diameter of 42 feet.
It appears that the inhabitants of the two sites were the Wichita descendants of the Quivira
Quivira
Quivira may refer to:*Quivira, a place first visited by Francisco Vazquez de Coronado while in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold*Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, a salt marsh located in south central Kansas...
people visited by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado y Luján was a Spanish conquistador, who visited New Mexico and other parts of what are now the southwestern United States between 1540 and 1542...
in 1541 in central Kansas. The reason the Quivirans moved south to these sites about 1720 is probably due to two factors. First, the Wichita were under pressure from the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
and Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
on the west and the Osage
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
on the east, The Deer Creek/Bryson Paddock sites may have been more secure against attacks. Secondly, located on the Arkansas River, near the head of navigatation for large canoes, French traders could transport trade goods to the sites by boat. Archaeologists have found metal tools and glass beads of French and English origin at the site. The Wichita probably traded buffalo skins and meat (jerky
Jerky (food)
Jerky is lean meat that has been trimmed of fat, cut into strips, and then been dried to prevent spoilage. Normally, this drying includes the addition of salt, to prevent bacteria from developing on the meat before sufficient moisture has been removed. The word "jerky" is a bastardization of the...
) to the French in exchange. Some French traders may have lived at the sites.
The Wichita were known to be excellent farmers and their villages were surrounded by fields of corn, beans, squash, watermelon (introduced by the Spanish), tobacco, native plums, and possibly other fruits and nuts. A metate (grinding stone) weighing hundreds of pounds has been found at the sites which indicates large scale processing of corn meal. They traded their agricultural products to the buffalo hunting Plains Indians
Plains Indians
The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. Their colorful equestrian culture and resistance to White domination have made the Plains Indians an archetype in literature and art for American Indians everywhere.Plains...
.
Archaeologists believe the Wichita moved away from the site in 1758, probably to escape Osage attacks. The French negotiated a peace between the Wichita and the Comanche in 1746, and the Wichita journeyed south to new homes in the Red River valley on the border between Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Oklahoma. There they became major allies and trade partners of the Comanche.
Excavation
Joseph Thoburn of the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
knew about the site in 1914 and excavated it in 1917. In 1926 he found a map listing a settlement, "Fernandina," in the area of the Deer Creek Site, so he concluded it was the first non-Indian settlement in the area; however, the map was created in 1860. Ethnohistorian Mildren Mott Wedel asserted in 1981 that Fernandina or Ferdinandina had no connection to the 18th century Wichita village. Excavations in 2004 found a large number of trade items.
The Deer Creek Site and the Bryson Paddock site were declared National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
s in 1964 and 1979 respectively. The US Army Corps of Engineers currently owns the Deer Creek site. The Bryson Paddock site is under private ownership.