An Archaeological Reconnaissance of the Dillman Road Sewage Treatment Plant Alternative Sites 2B and 4B, Monroe County, Indiana

Abstract

An archaeological reconnaissance of the Dillman Road Sewage Treatment Plant alternative sites 2B and 4B was undertaken on November 17, 1976 by the author in order to assess project impact on prehistoric cultural resources. This work was accomplished at the request of the City of Bloomington Utilities to comply with the National environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 11593 and Public Law 93-291. Reconnaissance results and information supplied by Mr. John Rice indicate that a total of four archaeological sites exist within the project boundaries in site 2B. The very small amount of artifactual material recovered from sites 12 Ho 362, 12 Mo 363 and 12 Mo 364 indicate that they were not habitation sites of any duration and the probability of any undisturbed deposits either being constructed or remaining, given the erosional nature and the past cultivation of the area, is low. Site number 12 No 366 produced diagnostic artifacts of two different, temporally widely separated, cultural periods. It is unlikely that any undisturbed subsurface deposits or features remain. Therefore construction of the proposed sewage treatment facilities at alternative site 2B will probably not adversely affect prehistoric cultural resources. It is recommended that no further archaeological investigations be conducted at alternative site 2B, unless cultural materials are observed during project construction. In this unlikely event the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology should be notified to prevent destruction of information. Reconnaissance results indicate that only one site 12 Mo 74 exists within the project area in site 4B. Investigation of the site revealed a fairly large amount of cultural material eroding from a bank at the northwestern edge of the site, some of which appeared to be situated at the base of the plowzone. The existence of artifactual material at the base of the plowzone indicate that undisturbed deposits or features may exist at the site and it therefore may potentially be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It is recommended that limited test excavations be conducted on 12 Mo 74 to determine the exact nature of the site, its archaeological significance and its potential, if any, for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.