Archaeological Survey for Proposed Industrial 69/12.47 kV Substation and 69 kV Tap Line, Wayne County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of Hoosier Energy REC, Inc., the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology Office of Cultural Resource Management, Indiana University (GBL-OCRM) conducted a Phase Ia archaeological survey of proposed industrial 69/12.47 kV substation and 69 kV tap line for Wayne County (Jackson Township), Indiana. The property surveyed is located north of Cambridge City, Indiana. A right-of-way allowance of 15 feet (5 m) was applied to the 1,700 ft tap line segment. Approximately 2.85 acres were surveyed. A total of 0.1 acres were disturbed by the introduction of fill dirt and modern debris on the western end of the project area and was therefore subject to overview. The purposes of survey were 1) to identify and document all cultural resources in the project area, 2) to evaluate any sites found with regard to their eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures (IRHSS), and 3) to make recommendations for the protection of significant and potentially significant sites. Fieldwork was conducted on August 2,5-6, 2002 by GBL archaeologists Johnie Sanders, John Cracraft, Amy Haluska, Alyc Helms, Ruth Heronomus, David Higgins, Tamara Hull, and Bryn Neuenschwander. One previously unrecorded archaeological site, 12 Wy 430, was documented during the survey (Figure 2). The newly recorded site is represented by a single stoneware handle. No features or structures were located during the survey. Due to the paucity of artifacts associated with the site, it is the opinion of the GBL that site 12 Wy 430 is not likely to contribute significantly to the understanding of Indiana prehistory or history, and is not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures (IRHSS). No further archaeological investigation is recommended. Cultural resource clearance is therefore recommended for the proposed substation and tap line provided that all earth-moving activities are restricted to the currently delineated project area boundaries.