Woodcliff Burials

Amy Bleier presented research about Woodcliff (25SD31): Background And Preliminary Analysis at the 61st Plains Anthropological Conference.

Initial investigations were done by the Nebraska State Historical Society at the Woodcliff site above the Platte River in eastern Nebraska in 1969 after a series of burials was discovered. During the NSHS investigations, the burials were determined to probably be from the Oto tribe from the general period 1750-1800.

Due to the private status of the Woodcliff lands in the Woodcliff Lakes, there was little other research. However, during emergency salvage operation in 2002 due to road discussions, the NSHS had a chance to look at the site again. This excavation found three burials dating to the middle of the 18th century,with the remains being returned to the Oto-Missouria Tribe in Oklahoma. In addition, the Oto cemetery also contained a previously unknown Pawnee village probably dating to the 1600s or early 1700s.