Archaeological Reconnaissance Overview of Added Travel Lanes from 9th Street to State Street in Gibson County, Indiana, Project ST-018-2( ), Des. No. 8915400

Abstract

On 20 October 2003, the GBL-OCRM conducted an archaeological reconnaissance overview of the proposed added travel lanes on SR 64 in Princeton, Indiana (Project ST-018-2( ), Des. No. 8915400) under contract with the Indiana Department of Transportation. Existing Right-of-Way (ROW) ranges from 15.2 m (49.9 ft) to 25.6 m (83.9 ft) in width. Total additional required ROW is estimated to be a width of 26 m (85 ft). The proposed new ROW has experienced extensive subsurface disturbance as a direct result of the Princeton community downtown/urban development and expansion through the years. Commercial and residential construction are the two largest contributors to the subsurface disturbance. Additional factors include the construction of SR 64, side street construction, sidewalks, parking lots, and underground utilities (i.e. electric, phone, gas, water, and sewer). Background research indicates that there are currently no previously recorded archaeological sites located within the existing and new ROW It is the opinion of the GBL-OCRM that the subsurface soils of the new proposed ROW are heavily disturbed with little to no possibility of recovering contextually intact archaeological deposits. It is our opinion that no further archaeological investigation is needed and archaeological clearance is recommended. However, if artifacts, cultural features, and/or remains that might prove to be human are discovered during earth-moving activities, the State Historic Preservation Officer at the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA), Indiana Department of Natural Resources, should be contacted immediately.