Phase Ia Archaeological Survey for Proposed New Road Construction from the Intersection of Smith Road and Woodyard Road to New S.R. 46, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Abstract

At the request of Butler, Fairman and Seufert, Inc., the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University (GBL) conducted a Phase Ia archaeological reconnaissance survey of the proposed location for new road construction from the intersection of Smith Road and Woodyard Road to S.R. 46 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana. The project consists of 962 meters of new road including four lanes at 3.6 meters each with an additional 0.765 meters each side for curb and gutter for a total clear roadway of 15.7 meters. A 1.8 meter sidewalk will also be constructed along the south side, offset by 1.2 meters of sodding. The total impact area extends 46 meters from the new road center line in both directions for a total width of 92 meters. Approximately 21.8 acres (8.7 hectares) were surveyed. The purposes of 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 October 29, October 31, and November 1, 2001 by GBL archaeologists Devin Fishel, Kris Suther, and Sean Person. Two previously unrecorded archaeological sites, 12 Mo 1180 and 12 Mo 1181, were discovered within the proposed project area (Figure 2). Site 12 Mo 1180 is a small prehistoric lithic scatter of unknown age and cultural affiliation. Site 12 Mo 1181 is a diffuse late 18th/early 19th century house demolition scatter with no evident foundation or other features (Figure 3). Given the small size of site 12 Mo 1180, the sparse distribution of artifacts, and lack of evident features associated with site 12 Mo 1181, cultural resource clearance is recommended for the proposed road construction project, provided that all earth-moving activities are restricted to the currently defined project area boundaries.