Archaeological Reconnaissance for the Proposed Intercity Road, Phases I and II (Job No. 9603), Jeffersonville and Clarksville, Clark County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of Jacobi, Toombs, and Lanz, Inc., the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University (GBL) conducted an archaeological surface reconnaissance of approximately 3.1 miles (51 acres) of construction right-of-way for the proposed Intercity Road, Phases I and II, on the north side of Jeffersonville and Clarksville, Clark County, Indiana. Of the 51 acres to be impacted by the new road construction, approximately 15. 6 acres were surveyed by means of a shovel probe survey; 11.4 acres were visually surveyed; and 24 acres were found to be completely disturbed and unsuitable for survey. The purposes of the archaeological reconnaissance were to: 1) identify and document cultural resources in the proposed project area; 2) if cultural materials were discovered, assess their potential for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures (IRHSS); and 3) make recommendations pertaining to the significance and future treatment of cultural resources within the project area. Fieldwork was performed on August 17 and 18, 1988 by GBL archaeologists Wendy L. Natt, Elizabeth Pennefather-O'Brien, Charles E. Bair, and Jessica A. Satkoski. During the survey, two historic sites, 12 Cl 468 and 469, were recorded within the proposed road right-ofway. 12 Cl 468 is an historic church. The GBL recommends that this building is a potentially significant historic structure. Before archaeological clearance can be given to destroy this site, the church should be archivally researched and photo-documented in detail so that its eligibility for placement on the State and National registers can be properly evaluated. 12 Cl 469 is an old storage shed. This structure is in poor condition and is not recommended to be potentially significant. No further investigations are recommended for this site. N"o other historic sites or structures will be impacted by the Intercity Road project. Cultural resource clearance is recommended for construction of the road in all portions of the right-of-way except: 1) that area currently occupied by Asbury Church (12 Cl 468); and 2) two areas that were not surveyed because landowner permission has not yet been obtained. If construction can be re-routed around any or all of those areas, then cultural resource clearance is recommended provided the proposed re-routes are subjected to archaeological reconnaissance and found not to contain significant or potentially significant cultural resources.