Native American lead mining in the Galena River Valley and the potential for archaeological research

The Galena River lows through the rugged Driftless Area and was intensively occupied by Native Americans during the Late Historic period. These people were drawn to the extensive lead (galena) deposits and were actively engaged in large-scale mining, smelting, and trading of this mineral. This activity also drew numerous Euro-American traders and miners, making the valley a critical and volatile frontier of cultural interaction. This unique history is represented by a number of unexamined sites, including mines, smelters, habitation sites, and trading posts. These sites can offer valuable information concerning the role of accommodation, conflict, and social change among local Native Americans.