Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Location for a New Access Road, Crane NSWC, Martin County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of the Department of the Navy, Crane Division Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University (GBL) conducted a Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance survey of the proposed location for a new gravel access road on the grounds of the Crane NSWC, Martin County, Indiana. The access road is being constructed as a part of a new elevated water tank installation, the location of which was surveyed by the GBL on August 1, 2000 (GBL ROI #00-37). In addition to providing access to the water tank, the road corridor will also contain a new water main and powerline. A total of approximately 0.17 acre was surveyed. The purposes of the 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 August 24, 2000 by GBL archaeologist Mary E. Pirkl. No cultural resources were discovered within the proposed project area. No further archaeological work is recommended. Cultural resource clearance is therefore recommended for the proposed access road construction project, provided that all earth-moving activities are restricted to the currently defined project area boundaries.