RE: Archaeological Records Review for Proposed Town of New Harmony Recreation Trails Program; MEI Project #200175, Posey County, Indiana

Abstract

The Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Office of Cultural Resource Management (GBL-OCRM), Indiana University has completed an archaeological records review for the proposed Town of New Harmony Recreation Trails Program. The proposed impact area will involve development of the New Harmony Riverfront Recreation Trails, which are located on the northwest edge of the Town of New Harmony, Harmony Township. Topographically, the project area setting is in the heavily dissected Mitchell Plain. According to information contained in the GBL site and survey files, no previous systematic archaeological surveys have been conducted in the proposed project area, though several previously documented prehistoric and historic sites have been recorded in the area surrounding the proposed project area. To the best of our knowledge, the impact area contains no properties listed on the NRHP or IRHSS that could be negatively impacted by the proposed development. In view of the topographic setting and proximity of the project area to the Wabash River, it is the opinion of the GBL-OCRM that the possibility exists for previously undocumented prehistoric sites to be located in the project area. Thus, the GBL-OCRM recommends that all portions of the proposed project area that have not been previously disturbed through prior earth-moving activities such as grading or filling be subjected to Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance-level survey, which will confirm the presence, nature, and extent of disturbance in the proposed project area, and will confirm the presence or absence of potentially important cultural resources.