News

8/03/2006

An Archaeological Survey of Hancock County: Enhancement of a Data Deficient County

ARMS received a FY2006 Historic Preservation Fund Grant to investigate archaeological resources in Hancock County, Indiana.  Hancock County was chosen because it is rapidly developing and very little archaeological information is recorded.  In addition, the natural setting of Hancock County is somewhat different from the rest of the till plain region of central Indiana.  While past settlement and use of the till plain region of Indiana is well documented, since Hancock County has a somewhat different natural setting, we are unable to apply what we know about the surrounding region to the specific setting in the county.   

The following research questions guide this project: 

• What is the cultural chronology for Hancock County?

• What is the settlement pattern for different cultural contexts?  For example, do Middle Woodland site occur near marshes as in the rest of the region?

• Are Late Archaic sites found with the greatest frequency, followed by Early Archaic and Late Woodland as elsewhere?

• What is the average site density within the county?

• Is prehistoric occupation more extensive and/and or more intensive at the ecotones between the environmental zones?

• Can German identity be distinguished from other early Euro-American settlement?

• What is the potential for buried archaeological sites within the county?

• What chert resources were utilized in the county?  Are there outcrops of Fall Creek chert?

The project will involve a pedestrian survey of approximately 1000 acres of agricultural land and public outreach.  Several tangible products will result from the project including:   

• A technical report which details the background, methods, results and conclusions derived from the project.

• An estimated 300 to 400 new site forms.

• Enhancement of our understanding of human settlement of Hancock County and a different part of the till plain region. 

• Public outreach and a PowerPoint presentation will disseminate the methods and results of the project to a wide audience.

Field work was initiated in May and will be completed in the fall after crops are harvested.  Lab work and documentation of private collections will be ongoing until the project is completed in April of 2007. 

08/01/2006

September is Indiana Archaeology Month.  To find a listing of state wide activities visit the DHPA's Archaeology Month page.

ARMS will again be at Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana for Archaeology Weekend on September 16th and 17th.  We will be continue investigations around the late 19th century Bronnenburg House.  We will take volunteers from 9 am to 4 pm.  We will also conduct tours of the earthworks at 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday.  For more information contact Mounds State Park at 765-649-8128 or ARMS at 765-285-5328.

To learn more about last year's investigation at the Bronnenburg House visit our Publication page or download the Report.

07/31/2006

The Fudge Site: A New Look at an Ancient Monument

The Archaeological Resources Management Service (ARMS) at Ball State University completed a FY2005 Historic Preservation Fund Grant to investigate the Fudge site.  The Fudge site is the largest enclosure recorded in Indiana surrounding 31 acres and is the only Indiana site to be featured in Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley.    In 1929, a mound located in the center of the enclosure was excavated by Frank Setzler, an archaeologist hired by the Indiana History Bureau.

The project recorded 27 archaeological sites through pedestrian survey of approximate 170 acres. The pedestrian surveys confirmed the absence of large amounts of habitation debris within the enclosure and found only tentative examples of Middle Woodland occupation in the nearby area.

Investigations at the Fudge site documented that over half of the embankment walls were visible although they were reduced significantly in height. Subsurface anomalies relating to the excavated mound and the plowed-down western gateway extension were documented through magnetometer surveys.   Excavations recovered few artifacts but three radiocarbon dates ranging between cal 110 BC to AD 220 were obtained. The radiocarbon dates and the stratigraphy suggest multiple stages of construction involving preparation of the original ground surface and construction of the northern embankment wall from locally available soils.

Further understanding of Early/Middle Woodland ceremonial and settlement systems were obtained through investigations of the Fudge site chronology, construction and function.  From all the information we have collected from the east central Indiana earthworks, it is apparent that they are part of a regional network.  The clear regional pattern in chronology, sites, artifacts, mortuary practices and ceremonialism led to the redefinition of the New Castle Phase. 

In sum, the project confirmed that important archaeological information still exists within the Fudge site and it was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.  The site has already yielded important information in Early and Middle Woodland prehistory and contains intact, unexplored deposits that may further our understanding of the site.

The project has been funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.

A copy of the final report is available for download.  A PowerPoint presentation is also available.  Click here to view a poster presentation of the Fudge Site by Brad King. 

For past years news, visit the archives:

      2005