The Robb Hill Survey at Bradford Woods, Morgan County, Indiana

Abstract

The Bradford Woods property is located on the western border of the White River Valley and consists of approximately 2800 acres of forests and hills. Many common species of trees can be found on the property, but are most of the trees are relatively small due to recent logging activities. Flooding in the adjacent White River Valley is a common problem at the site. Historically the site has served many functions including a sand mining operation, a family residence, and a children’s educational camp. Archaeological interest in the property began when an early archaic St. Charles projectile point was discovered in a drainage ditch on the property and a site on the property was designated 12Mg326 in 2004. The site was later resurveyed in 2009, but no artifacts were discovered. In August of 2008 a survey was taken of a prominent ridge on the property known as Robb Hill as part of the dissertation research conducted by Edward Herrmann, a pre-history fellow at the Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology. The principle investigator for this project was Dr. Chris Peebles. The archaeological survey of Robb Hill yielded numerous artifacts in distinct clusters. These results indicate that three archaeological sites and three historic locales may exist in the area of study. Two additional prehistoric sites were located outside of the study area and documented. It is recommended that both the prehistoric and historical sites be preserved and protected from any future construction on the property. Diagnostic artifacts recovered at the prehistoric sites indicate a relation to the late middle and early late archaic periods, however early archaic objects were found in the vicinity and may suggest a long-term relationship between the site and Native American groups in the region.