RE: Archaeological Assessment of an Installed Waterline for St. Anne’s Golf Course Along County Road 100E, Jennings County, Indiana

Abstract

The Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University (GBL) conducted an on-site impact assessment at the location of a previously installed waterline along CR 100E in Jennings County, Indiana. The purpose of installing the waterline was to provide irrigation for the St. Anne’s Golf Course and to provide water access for Center Township firefighters. Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance-level survey of the project area was not conducted prior to the installation of the waterline due to miscommunication and/or lack of clarity about the environmental permitting process and easement ownership and access. Mary E. Pirkl of the GBL visited the impact area on February 12, 2001, in order to assess the impact of the project on cultural resources in the area. Specifically, the purpose of the GBL’s assessment was 1) to determine the placement, nature, and extent of the impact corridor, 2) to evaluate the potential of the impact corridor to contain previously unrecorded cultural resources (e.g. archaeological sites or historic structures), and 3) to assess any potential damages to previously unrecorded cultural materials potentially located within the project corridor. Overall, the installation of the waterline has precluded the opportunity for professional archaeologists to conduct a proper Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance-level survey of the impact area. Despite these unfortunate circumstances, it is the opinion of the GBL that the waterline installation most likely did not have a negative impact on undiscovered cultural materials. That said, if additional construction or modification for the waterline is proposed in the future, those areas that have not previously been disturbed by earth-moving activities should be subjected to Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance-level survey.