Phase Ia Archaeological Survey for Pavement Replacement on SR 44 from 0.84 km West of SR 3 to 0.42 km East of SR 3, Rush County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University (GBL) conducted a Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance survey of the proposed pavement replacement on SR 44 from 0.84 km west of SR 3 to 0.42 km east of SR 3 in Rush County, Indiana. The project consists of two parts, a widening of SR 44 on the east side of Rushville, and two corner cuts at the intersection of Jackson Street and SR 44. Approximately 1.6 acres were surveyed. The area of the proposed corner cuts at the intersection of Jackson Street and SR 44 consisted of approximately 0.1 acres. Approximately 1.5 acres were surveyed in the proposed widening corridor. The purposes of survey were 1) to identify and document all 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 within the project area. Fieldwork was conducted on May 31, 2001 by GBL archaeologists George Mankowski, Sean Person, and Dan Osborne. One site, 12 Ru 589, was recorded during the survey. The site contained a small number of historic materials that were discovered within a disturbed context. Due to the disturbed nature of the site and lack of diagnostic artifacts, it is the opinion of the GBL that the site is not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or the Indiana Register of of Historic Sites and Structures (IRHSS). No other cultural resources were discovered during this survey. Cultural resource clearance is therefore recommended for the proposed pavement replacement project, provided that all earthmoving activities are restricted to the currently delineated project area boundaries.