An Archaeological Survey within the Proposed Gnaw Bone Wastewater Treatment System Service Area, Brown County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of R. W. Armstrong (RWA), the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology ( GBL) performed a phase IA cultural resources reconnaissance survey on behalf of the Gnaw Bone Regional Sewer District (RSD) at the proposed location of the Gnaw Bone, Brown County Wastewater Facilities Project. Approximately 37.5 acres of land in the Town of Gnaw Bone, Indiana, were surveyed intensively, including 1) 35 acres of fallow agricultural field; and 2) approximately 650 meters of proposed sewer line right-of-way (R-O-W). Although only a small portion of the 35 acre block will be affected by the development, the entire block was surveyed so the GBL could advise R WA on a suitable layout for the development that would avoid archaeological resources. Prior to the cultural resources survey, a review of GBL site survey records revealed that at least six archaeological sites were located within or near the survey area. Three were potentially in areas to be impacted by the proposed wastewater facilities. The purposes of the Phase IA surface survey were to 1) locate and document all cultural resources in the proposed areas of effect, including areas to which facilities may be moved if necessary; 2) evaluate those resources and make recommendations for their protection and/or investigation; and 3) gather sufficient information to advise R. W. Armstrong and the Gnaw Bone RSD as to possible placement of new facilities (treatment plant, sewer line, and access road) where they will not impact significant cultural resources. Fieldwork was performed on March 9, 13, and 16, 1998 by GBL archaeologists Patrick K. O'Brien and Wendy L. Natt. Three of the previously documented sites within the project area were relocated and resurveyed; the remaining three sites could not be relocated within the proposed areas of impact. In addition to the three formerly recorded sites, two new sites, 12 Br 234 and 235 were discovered within the main survey area. The GBL recommends that of the five sites documented, only 12 Br 28 has the potential to contain significant buried deposits. However, whereas it was originally thought that the proposed treatment plant location coincided with 12 Br 28, the survey showed that although the plant will be constructed near that site, it will most likely not impact it. It is thus unlikely that the proposed wastewater facilities will impact significant buried deposits. However, in the event that cultural deposits (stained soil, artifact concentrations, bone) are discovered during construction of any of the proposed facilities, the State Historic Preservation Officer at the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) should be contacted immediately. With that stipulation in mind, and provided that 12 Br 28 is marked prior to construction, cultural resource clearance is recommended for the proposed development of the Gnaw Bone wastewater treatment project.