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
After excavation blocks and trenches were layed out according to grid, we used a backhoe to remove plow disturbed soils and recent alluvium that comprise level 1. In Block 2, a laser level (loaned to the project by Indiana State University, Department of Anthropology) was used to guide the mechanical excavation to the target elevation for the base of 1 (106.3 m ASL). As expected, the tree stumps and roots certainly made excavation difficult, but there were far more stumps present than were visible on the ground surface!!!
FOREGROUND: Following mechanical excavation, the loose dirt in Block 2 was removed by hand excavation. Then the mud that followed a 2-inch downpour was allowed to dry. Mississippian midden deposits are present just below the base of the excavation at elevation 106.3.
BACKGROUND: At Block 1 on higher ground, we began shovel scraping the base of excavation units to search for pit and wall trench features that intrude the subsoil. Portable canopy-type tents (loaned by the Paul Weimer family) made this hot, hard work considerably easier.
Block 2: Initial layout of excavation units within a 2 x 10 m area. Strings mark the sides of Units 4A-4J and 4K-4T. Nails with pink tape mark the corners of the units.
Last updated on 9/17/2001
Send Comments to: munsonc@indiana.edu
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