Bone Bank Archaeological Research

Posey County, Indiana


Rescue Excavations at the Bone Bank Archaeological Site in Southwestern Indiana

Introduction Indiana's First Archaeological Excavation Survey and Testing Significance Project Goals Research Stages Expected Results Bone Bank in 2000 Planning for 2001 Current Work In the News Fall 2001 Lecture References Geomorphological History Links Maps

INDIANA ARCHAEOLOGY WEEK
SEPTEMBER 2001

In celebration of Indiana Archaeology Week, a public lecture on the

"Rescue Excavations at the Bone Bank Archaeological Site, Posey County"

will be presented by archaeologist Cheryl Ann Munson, Indiana University, on Friday evening, September 21, 7:00 p.m., in the room Forum II, lower level of the Administration Building, University of Southern Indiana (8600 University Blvd., Evansville, IN).


The lecture will illustrate some of the initial accomplishments and the ongoing challenges of the state's first rescue excavation project.

Munson is directing the IU research team carrying out the project. Experienced avocational archaeologists, as well as student volunteers from the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville, are assisting in this project.

The Four Rivers Resource, Conservation, and Development Area, Inc., Petersburg, IN, is administering a grant from the Wabash River Heritage Corridor Program, which is supporting the excavation project, along with matching funds and contributed services provided by private, educational, and institutional sources. The University of Southern Indiana will curate the recovered collections after laboratory analyses at Indiana University are complete.

The Bone Bank site took its name from the Native American cemeteries which the Wabash River washed away more than 100 years ago. Most archaeologists and local residents thought that this Mississippian village had been destroyed by erosion. However, archaeological surveys and test excavations in 1997-1999 documented that a small part of the village site is still intact and dates to the period after the abandonment of Angel Mounds. Unfortunately, there is no practical way to hold back the river as it meanders southward and eats into its banks. Hence, excavations to recover scientifically documented collections from the site are urgent.

The lecture is co-sponsored by Friends of Angel Mounds and the University of Southern Indiana.

Further information can be found at: http://www.indiana.edu/~archaeo/bone_bank.

For on-site photos, more information, or an interview, contact after Aug 20: Cheryl Munson: answering machine-(812) 838-6064, or cell-(812) 325-3407, or e-mail: munsonc@indiana.edu

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Last updated on 8/06/2001

Send Comments to: munsonc@indiana.edu

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