Prather Research Plan

Initial research at the Prather site in 2003 involves preliminary archaeological survey to define the limits of the Mississippian occupation and to map the site's topography. This work is funded by a grant from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund, and co-directed by Cheryl Ann Munson (Indiana University-Bloomington) and Robert G. McCullough (Indiana University-Purdue University-Ft. Wayne). This grant is administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.

Data on the distribution of artifacts will come primarily from screened auger samples. Detailed topographic mapping is essential to identifying the location of the plow-deflated mounds reported in the 1930s, which have since suffered further deflation from agricultural disturbances. The present landowner uses the site area for no-till agriculture (hay) and pasture, which has significantly helped to conserve not only the mounds but the village deposits.

Further information on the background of the proposed research, and the project's goals and methods is contained in our research proposal.

Prather Research Proposal (2.2 megabyte .PDF file)

For information on our future plans at Prather see our summary of field work for 2003 HERE!