Archaeological sites are each given a unique, sequential identification number as they are recorded. This helps archaeologists keep track of the artifacts that come from the site and differentiates it from other sites in the area. The numbering system tells archaeologists what state and county a site comes from, and the sequence in which the site was discovered within the county. For example, Angel Mounds is archaeological site 12-Vg-1, meaning it is from Vanderburgh County (Vg), Indiana (12), and is the first documented site in that county (1). In this newsletter, we are highlighting the 25th site from Orange through Posey County.
- Orange County 12-Or-25: This Orange County site is an Oliver-Phase lithic scatter that was identified in 1975 as part of a watershed project.
- Owen County 12-Ow-25: This site was first reported to professional archaeologists in 1948. At that time, a number of lithic artifacts were identified including two manos, or pestles. Later, Allison-LaMotte style pottery was found at the site, giving the site a temporal designation of Late Woodland.
- Parke County 12-P-25: This site, documented by Indiana State University in 1975, is a small lithic scatter that included a unifacial knife.
- Perry County 12-Pe-25: This Perry County site has an interesting local history. According to An Archaeological Survey of Perry County by James Kellar (1958), the site has the local lore of being the location of a long wall that was either part of an “Indian fortress” or the refuge of an Ohio River pirate named Troxel. To date, the archaeological record has not been able to confirm either, although some large pieces of sandstone and lithic flakes were found at the site.
- Pike 12-Pi-25: This is an unidentified precontact site. Unfortunately, the site form does not include the materials found at the site, and little more is known about it at this time.
- Porter 12-Pr-25: Part of the Upp-Wark Mound group, this site was first investigated by J. Gilbert McAllister in 1932. Even at that time, the mound was barely perceptible above the ground surface, but seems to be intact below the ground. McAllister reported a heavy amount of charcoal and lithic debris extending at least three feet down, noting that the test unit did not reach the base of the feature.
- Posey 12-Po-25: This Woodland village site was first noted by Eli Lilly in 1937. By 1976, archaeologist Cheryl Munson reported that the site had largely been eroded away by the Ohio River.
Outreach
* Join the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) for a celebration of archaeology! Online Archaeology Week will run from April 5 to April 9, the week before the SAA 86th Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually. All members of the public are invited to explore archaeology and history through downloadable activities and talks from archaeologists and other related experts.
All activities will be free and do not require an annual meeting registration. For questions, please contact public_edu@saa.org or see saa.org/quick-nav/saa-media-room/saa-news/2021/03/05/saa-2021-online-archaeology-week.
A virtual presentation titled “Black and Indigenous Futures” will take place on April 7. Inspired by recent Black Lives Matter protests, the presentation is part of a webinar series exploring how contemporary activism and social justice are transforming the discipline of archaeology.
The event is sponsored by the Society of Black Archaeologists, Indigenous Archaeology Collective, Fiske Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Cornell Institute of Archaeology and Material Studies, Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, and Sapiens.
See sapiens.org/archaeology/black-and-indigenous-futures-in-archaeology/ for more information.
* “Structure from Motion: 3D Documentation in Indiana and Beyond” is an upcoming virtual program, which will be Friday, April 23 from noon to 1 p.m.
Structure from motion – or the ability to create three-dimensional scenes or objects from a two-dimensional image – is one of archaeology’s most exciting advancements. Using case studies from Indiana and South America, Dr. Alex Badillo, Director of Indiana State University’s Geospatial and Virtual Archaeology Laboratory and Studio, explores how this technology brings archaeological investigations to life and its implications for the 21st century toolkit.
This virtual event is hosted by Preserving Historic Places, a partnership of Indiana Landmarks, Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, and Indiana University. Register at preservinghistoricplaces.regfox.com/structure-from-motion.
* Cathy Draeger-Williams was invited to attend the International Women’s Day virtual event hosted by the International Women Indiana organization on March 8. This year’s topic was geared towards the happiness and resiliency of individuals and how important holistic well-being is for individuals, the workforce, and culture through an international perspective. One speaker discussed the gross national happiness program in Denmark with a guest from Bhutan. Another speaker explored the practical approach of defining happiness as a shared value in society. This event brings people together from various organizations to share cultural connections. To learn more, go to indianaiwi.org/.
Webpage
The DNR and DHPA have been going through a webpage conversion. Pages are being consolidated, updated, and improved. Also, URLs are changing away from the numbered names to words, making it easier to find links, resources, and pages. We ask for your patience as we finish up the project, and are hoping that it will be completed by April. We’ll continue to keep everyone apprised of the status of the updates.
This information is distributed via email by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA). This is meant to provide information on current archaeological topics and issues in which the DHPA is involved. An archive of past Archaeology News issues is available. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our office at 317-232-1646.