Phase IA Archaeological Survey of 80 Acres Proposed for Residential Development in Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of Environmental Management Consultants, Inc. (EMC) of Evansville, Indiana, the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University (GBL) conducted a Phase IA archaeological surface reconnaissance of approximately 80 acres proposed for residential development in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. The project area is located 3 miles northeast of downtown Evansville. This report describes the nature and cultural background of the project area and presents the survey methods, results, and interpretations of the archaeological survey. The purposes of the archaeological reconnaissance were to: I) 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 (IR.HSS); and 3) make recommendations pertaining to the significance and future treatment of cultural resources within the project area. It should be noted that, as the proposed development project in no way involves or requires the use of state or federal funds, permits, or licenses, the present survey was implemented solely at the request of the client (EMC), and not in response to recommendations by any government agency. Fieldwork was performed from December 21, 1998 to January 16, 1999 by GBL archaeologists Wendy L. Natt, Andrew A. White, Amanda S. Roth, Craig D. Byron, Jessica A. Satkoski, and Mary E. Pirkl. During the survey, no new prehistoric sites were found; however, one previously recorded site (12 Vg 43/255) was relocated and reinvestigated. Very few artifacts were found during the resurvey of 12 Vg 43/255, and no diagnostic artifacts or evidence of intact, buried cultural deposits were found at this site. It is extremely unlikely that further archaeological investigations at the 12 Vg 43/255 would contribute additional significant information about the area's prehistory. Therefore, this site is recommended to be non-significant and ineligible for inclusion on either the IRHSS or the NRHP. No further archaeological investigations are recommended for 12 Vg 43/255.