Phase Ia Archaeological Reconnaissance for the Loren Ellis Development Project Dearborn County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of LMS Contracting, Inc., the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University (GBL) conducted a Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance survey for LMS Contracting Inc.’s Loren Ellis Development Project near Lawrenceburg-Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana. LMS Contracting and Loren Ellis (property owner) plan to develop a property that includes development on the upland slopes of and near Wilson Creek. The project area is approximately 66 acres in size. Approximately 3.2 acres were surveyed using shovel probes. A systematic visual survey was conducted over approximately 56 acres consisting of areas with a slope greater than 25%. The remaining 6.8 acres were previously disturbed by earthmoving activities and not tested The purposes of survey were 1) to identify and document all of the 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 September 21, 2001 by GBL archaeologists George Mankowski, Kris Suthers, and Sean Person. During a combined visual and shovel probe survey, no cultural resources were discovered within the proposed project area. Cultural resource clearance is therefore recommended for the proposed development location provided that all earth-moving activities are restricted to the currently defined project area boundaries.